What They Are Saying: Elected Officials and Advocacy Organizations Highlight Build Back Better's Transformative Investment in Combatting the Climate Crisis

President Biden's Build Back Better Act is the single greatest federal legislative action to combat climate change to date.

Its funding would create thousands of jobs in the clean energy economy, incentivize middle class families to shift to electric vehicles and bikes through tax credits and rebates, and emphasize environmental justice through inclusive investments in disadvantaged communities.

As we continue to battle increasingly extreme weather, the Build Back Better Act would also invest in climate resilience through coastal restoration, forest management, and soil conservation projects.

Yesterday, members of Congress and environmental advocacy organizations touted the unprecedented level of investment proposed in the Build Back Better Act to address climate change.

See below for what they are saying:

Members of Congress

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: "Storms that we used to label "once-in-a-century" now slam us year after year. We're working to pass Build Back Better to fight the climate crisis, lower emissions, make communities more resistant to disasters, and protect our planet for the next generation." [Tweet, 12/9/21]

"Senate Democrats are working to pass the Build Back Better Act to create jobs, lower costs, fight climate change, and keep more money in people's pockets." [Tweet, 12/13/21]

Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey: "On the first day of Build Back Better, I'm dreaming of a Civilian Climate Corps—tens of thousands of young people working good paying jobs with health and education benefits, helping to address environmental destruction and confront the climate crisis. #BuildBackBetter" [Tweet, 12/13/21]

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar: "One of the most important aspects of Build Back Better? It makes a serious investment in combating climate change. We need this historic effort and we need it now." [Tweet, 12/9/21]

California Representative Julia Brownley: "In the past 10 years, climate and weather disasters have caused over $100 billion in damages across California. With the largest climate action investment in American history, the #BuildBackBetter Act is delivering on our promise to address the climate crisis." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

California Representative Jared Huffman: "After a year of devastating climate disasters, it's clear that we are living through a code red moment. @HouseDemocrats and @POTUS Biden are ready to meet this challenge with the historic climate investments in the #BuildBackBetter Act." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

California Representative Ted Lieu: "This July was the hottest month ever - and the world's scientists have warned us that this is a 'code red' moment. Democrats are answering the call with @POTUS Biden's #BuildBackBetter Act, the largest effort to combat the climate crisis in American history." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

California Representative Doris Matsui: "The #BuildBackBetter Act would meet the moment and combat #ClimateChange by investing in communities throughout the country that have been historically left behind, by boosting our economy, and by transitioning to a #CleanFuture." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

California Representative Grace Napolitano: "To tackle America's largest source of carbon pollution—transportation—the #BuildBackBetter Act would invest in reducing emissions and create more sustainable and resilient transportation options. We don't have a planet B. We must act now." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

California Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard: "In 2021, American families have faced:
The hottest summer on record
Devastating flooding
Monster wildfires and brutal heat waves
@POTUS Biden's #BuildBackBetter Act makes historic investments to fight the climate crisis. The time to pass this urgent legislation is now." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Florida Representative Kathy Castor: "With the #BuildBackBetter Act, @POTUS Biden is delivering on his promise to act on climate. We're going to unleash the largest clean energy investment in American history to create jobs, lower energy costs for families, and protect our children's future." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Florida Representative Lois Frankel: "With the largest climate action investment in American history, @POTUS Biden's #BuildBackBetter Act is investing in a better future:
A healthy planet for our children
Lower energy bills for families
Clean energy jobs for American workers" [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Hawaii Representative Kaiali'i Kahele: "Severe storms, coastal erosion & rising sea level temperatures—the climate crisis is here in Hawai?i, NOW. The #BuildBackBetter Act would be the largest climate action investment in American history. Let's do what's right for the future of our islands." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Illinois Representative Cheri Bustos: "Lower energy bills mean more $$$ in families' pockets. The #BuildBackBetter Act offers clean energy solutions to make utility bills cheaper, create millions of good-paying American jobs and protect future generations." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Illinois Representative Sean Casten: "The transformational climate investments in the #BuildBackBetter Act are a win-win-win for American families. Investing in clean energy and climate solutions will protect future generations, make energy bills cheaper, and create millions of good-paying jobs." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Illinois Representative Marie Newman: "FACT: Wind and solar power are now cheaper than coal and natural gas. The #BuildBackBetter Act will unleash the potential of clean energy — bringing those savings to American families and protecting our planet for future generations." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Illinois Representative Jan Schakowsky: "With the largest climate action investment in American history,
@POTUS Biden's #BuildBackBetter Act is investing in a better future:
A healthy planet for our children
Lower energy bills for families
Clean energy jobs for American workers" [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Massachusetts Representative Richard Neal: "It's time to act on climate. In the last 10 years, climate and weather disasters have caused up to $5 billion in damages here in Massachusetts. With @POTUS Biden's #BuildBackBetter Act, we're going to deliver the largest effort to solve the climate crisis in American history." [Tweet, 12/15/21

Michigan Representative Debbie Dingell: "The #ClimateCrisis is real & it's here. We cannot wait any longer to take critical steps in addressing this existential threat - we need to #BuildBackBetter & electrify the transportation sector to reduce carbon emissions." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Minnesota Representative Betty McCollum: "The transformational climate investments in the #BuildBackBetter Act are a win-win-win for American families: Investing in clean energy & climate solutions will protect future generations, make energy bills cheaper, and create millions of good-paying jobs. #ActOnClimate" [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Ohio Representative Shontel Brown: "Make no mistake: climate change is an existential threat to our planet and humanity—and it will hit vulnerable communities first. Inaction is not an option. Together, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Build Back Better Act make historic investments in climate action." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Pennsylvania Representative Mike Doyle: "With dozens of extreme weather events costing the US over $1 billion, one thing is clear - the #ClimateCrisis is here. The #BuildBackBetter Act will make historic investments in #cleanenergy lower greenhouse gas emissions & create millions of green, good-paying jobs." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Pennsylvania Representative Susan Wild: "Over the last 10 years, Lehigh Valley residents have faced major weather and climate disasters in our own backyards. It's time to meet the scale of this crisis. That's why I voted for the #BuildBackBetter Act, the largest climate change investment in American history." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Texas Representative Veronica Escobar: "In the last 10 years, disasters supercharged by climate change have caused up to $230 billion in damages in Texas. Our communities can't wait. It's time to #ActOnClimate and pass the Build Back Better Act to deliver bold climate investments and combat the climate crisis." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Washington Representative Pramila Jayapal: "Climate change is here and now – and it's putting all of us in danger. It's time to Build Back Better by making meaningful investments into climate action." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Washington Representative Rick Larsen: "#BuildBackBetter is the largest single effort to combat climate change in U.S. history
Invests $555 billion over 10 yrs
Establishes 300,000+ member Climate Conservation Corps = jobs
Reduces energy costs & cuts pollution
Ensures U.S. leads the clean energy economy" [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Washington Representative Adam Smith: "The #BuildBackBetterAct will deliver the largest effort to combat climate change in American history. This bill includes funding to build a green economy by expanding clean energy tax credits, incentivizing clean energy technology, & creating good-paying, sustainable jobs. (1/2)" [Tweet, 12/15/21]

"It's time to build a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for all. It's time to pass the #BuildBackBetterAct. (2/2)" [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Congressional Progressive Caucus: "The Build Back Better Act has rightfully been touted as the largest-ever federal investment in climate action. But to meet this moment, Congress needs to be concerned not only about quantity, but quality. If the Senate eliminates every mechanism in this bill designed to push polluters into a clean energy future, we simply will never get there – and that is unacceptable. Today, we urge the Senate to resist the fossil fuel industry's efforts to remove basic guardrails on the tax credits for carbon sequestration. The House-passed version of Build Back Better requires fossil fuel emitting plants to store 75 percent or more of their carbon pollution – an eminently reasonable requirement, as the fossil fuel industry itself touts carbon capture's ability to achieve a 90 percent sequestration rate. But now, special interest groups are pushing our Senate colleagues to remove the requirement altogether, and provide a no strings attached taxpayer handout to the biggest polluters. For Congress to pass such a policy – especially as the South and Midwest are still recovering from the latest climate change fueled disaster – would be an insult to basic tax fairness and to every member of our communities demanding environmental justice. It's simple: a bill that aims to tackle climate change and rapidly decarbonize our economy cannot include gifts for polluters. President Biden has demonstrated leadership on the world stage in making the ambitious, yet necessary, commitment that the United States will halve its carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. In order to meet that mandate, our colleagues must oppose any efforts to remove the limited guardrails that currently exist on carbon sequestration subsidies and protect our national effort to rapidly transition to solar, wind, and other renewable energies. As the Senate debates the Build Back Better Act, this House-passed legislation's promise to address climate change at the scope of the crisis, and deliver on the President's transformational vision, must not be weakened." [Statement, 12/15/21]

"Right now, special interests are trying to gut Build Back Better's climate policies to create a no-strings-attached fossil fuel handout. Our Senate colleagues must resist. It's simple: a bill to tackle climate change and decarbonize our economy can't include gifts for polluters." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Advocacy Organizations

League of Conservation Voters: "The #BuildBackBetter Act will:
Put us on a path to 100% clean electricity by 2035
Sustain as many as 679,000 new clean energy jobs every year
Electrify up to 60% of new cars by 2030
Deliver equitable economic benefits
#PassTheClimateBill" [Tweet, 12/15/21]

"A vote against the #BuildBackBetter Act is a vote against climate action, environmental justice, and the future of our nation and planet. Text CLIMATEBILL to 877-877 and tell the Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act. #PassTheClimateBill" [Tweet, 12/15/21]

"Rep. Casten absolutely nails it, passing the #BuildBackBetter Act means ‘everyone has cleaner air and cheaper energy.' We can cut carbon emissions, protect communities, and lower household costs all at the same time. The Senate just has to take us over the finish line." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Climate Power: "THIS IS OUR CLIMATE MOMENT
The most significant climate bill in history is in the Senate right now—we can't miss this historic opportunity. Text ASAP to 434-266-8464 and demand they pass the Build Back Better Act." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

"Plain and simple: The Build Back Better Act cuts costs for middle-class families." [Tweet, 12/15/21]
"We can't be complacent about climate catastrophes. We need the bold climate action in the Build Back Better Act." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

"The climate crisis is here. It's supercharging storms, intensifying the impacts of extreme weather, and devastating communities across the country. We need action now. Tell your Senators to pass the Build Back Better Act by texting ASAP to 434-266-8464." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Environmental Defense Fund: "Numbers from NOAA are likely to show 2021 as the sixth-warmest year on record. AND as Axios points out, every year in the top 10 has occurred this century, and the top five have all been in 2015 or later." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

"‘There is absolutely no question that the future is electric. Protecting the environment while growing the economy. This proves it can be done.' " [Tweet, 12/14/21]

Sierra Club: "Thank you @POTUS for demanding environmental justice as a part of the #BuildBackBetter Act, which includes more than 130 programs that would invest nearly $600 billion in climate action, clean energy jobs, and environmental justice." [Tweet, 12/15/21]

UnidosUS Action Fund: "Fossil fueled ships, trucks, trains, & equipment have polluted largely working class #Latino communities near ports. The #BuildBackBetterAct will address this injustice with $3.5 billion for cleaning up our ports. #LCJFProject #NoHayPlanetaB" [Tweet, 12/15/21]

Green Latinos: "The #BuildBackBetterAct will address climate change issues that disproportionately affect communities of color, including many Hispanic communities across our nation. #NoHayPlanetaB" [Tweet, 12/15/21]