Dear Friends, I have spent my entire career fighting to preserve and improve our environment. From protecting public lands, halting illegal deforestation, and dealing with the toxic legacy of Superfund sites, environmental protection is and will always be one of my highest priorities. As a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, I have worked non-stop to level the playing field for renewable energy development and remove favorable tax treatment for the fossil fuels industry.  There is no greater challenge than the climate crisis. Our communities are not prepared for the more frequent, intense weather events we’re experiencing, from extreme heat waves to severe freezes. We know that people of color and lower income Americans are suffering disproportionately from the impacts of our changing climate. Adapting for the future means we must transition more quickly from fossil fuels to a clean energy future, while ensuring we’re protecting our most vulnerable communities. Yesterday, when President Biden was in Portland, I made sure to convey the importance of declaring a national climate emergency, I am pleased that more than two dozen of my House colleagues have joined me on a letter urging the President to declare a national climate emergency. There is no better way for the Administration to show they are committed to combating the climate crisis on Earth Day than taking this immediate action.  An emergency declaration would unlock vast federal resources to invest in resilient infrastructure, pollution reduction, and protection of our public health. While the Administration’s focus on climate to date has been welcome and helpful, an emergency declaration would be a giant step in fighting the climate crisis.  It is something we can do NOW.  Last year I joined with Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Sanders to introduce the National Climate Emergency Act of 2021 (H.R. 794/ S. 938), which mandates a national climate emergency declaration and outlines the federal response, including principles of a just transition.  Today, I am renewing that call by urging President Biden to give the American people the resources we need to start effectively mitigating climate change by declaring a national climate emergency.  To read the full text of the letter, click here.