Dear Jeanne —
We need your help to end a perverse federal policy: fossil fuel subsidies. Such subsidies keep the industry in business, and make it easier for them to lobby Congress, thereby blocking effective climate legislation. As noted by Senator Ed Markey, the 20 largest fossil fuel companies account for more than a third of global gas emissions in the modern era. Yet such companies receive $15 billion per year in direct federal subsidies, and in 2020, spent more than $115 million lobbying Congress in defense of these giveaways — a 13,000% return on their investment!1
Outraged? Please call your Congressional representative and ask that they cosponsor HR 2102, the End Polluter Welfare Act2, and that they push for the bill to be included in the President’s American Jobs Plan. Shockingly, none of our Puget Sound-area Congressional reps have yet signed on. Because we have only a narrow window of time to get this bill passed, your calls are urgently needed.
Here are the Puget Sound area Congressional representatives’ phone numbers. (If you don’t know who your rep is, you can find out here.)
Suzan DelBene 202 225 6311
Pramila Jayapal 202 225 3106
Adam Smith 202 225 8901
Kim Schrier 202 225 7761
Derek Kilmer 202 225 5916
Marilyn Strickland 202 225 9740
And bonus points if you have time to call our two Senators! The bill number in the Senate is S. 1167.3
Patty Murray 202 224 2621
Maria Cantwell 202 224 3441
When you call, offer your own reasons for supporting the bill, or use this suggested call script:
“I urge Representative ___ (or Senator ___ ) to cosponsor the End Polluter Welfare Act and to push for it to be included in the American Jobs Plan, because …” (choose one or two bullet points):
- For decades, subsidies have helped keep the fossil fuel industry afloat.
- Fossil fuel corporations have demonstrated deep disregard for the health and safety of our communities.
- Fossil fuel companies have racked up dangerous levels of debt while exploiting workers and polluting our communities.
- Instead of subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, we should be spending money on building up renewable energy projects around the country, thereby improving our climate and creating jobs that help communities rather than hurting them.
- This bill could help the US emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever, and move us towards the green and just future we need.
Thank you for making these important phone calls!
Selden
1 www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-joins-sanders-omar-and-colleagues-to-introduce-the-end-polluter-welfare-act
2 https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2102
3 https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1167/actions
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