In response to the Senate opening debate today on the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Evergreen Action Executive Director Jamal Raad released the following statement:

“Protecting the integrity of our democracy and Americans’ right to vote is intertwined with the fight for climate justice. Evergreen Action is proud to endorse the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The Senate must pass both bills - and change any antiquated Senate rule standing in their way. Fossil fuel special interests have repeatedly bankrolled efforts to suppress the voting rights of the same frontline communities that they’ve subjected to pollution for decades. These big polluters have supported gerrymandering and voter suppression to elect politicians who will thwart the will of the majority of Americans who want action on climate change. It’s not one crisis over another, these issues are interwoven—Congressional leaders must show that they can walk and chew gum at the same time. 

“Congress must show the American people they can deliver. When the Senate returns from recess, they must take up negotiations immediately and reach a deal to pass the transformative climate and clean energy investments in the Build Back Better Act into law by the March 1 State of the Union. As Senator Joe Manchin stated last week, there is broad agreement on the climate provisions in BBBA. President Biden and Congressional leadership must act immediately to deliver on this consensus to act on climate. When they return to session, Congress must finish what they started and deliver a deal that includes the bold climate provisions contained in BBBA.”

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