EPW Chair Carper & Fmr Secretary of the Navy Mabus Call for Investments in Climate and Clean Energy

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Tom Carper (D-DE) and former U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus held a Capitol Hill news conference in support of accelerating America’s transition to clean energy to tackle the threat that a dangerous and volatile fossil fuel economy poses to our energy independence and national security. Chair Carper and Secretary Mabus called for Congress to pass bold investments in climate, justice, and jobs to achieve energy independence through a rapid transition to clean energy, reducing costs for families, fighting pollution, and protecting public health. The event was sponsored by the Climate Action Campaign.

“We can end our overreliance on foreign fossil fuels, drive down harmful climate emissions, and lower energy costs for families by investing in clean energy. In the Senate, this is our ‘do or die’ moment to pass legislation that speeds up our transition to a clean energy future and strengthens our national security,” said Senator Carper. “Now is our time to get it done. Every week that passes without action, Americans face real costs in dollars, livelihoods lost, and missed opportunities. The future of our national security and planet is at stake.”

The press conference coincided with a delivery of over 8,700 petitions to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and over 100 grasstops letters that were sent to members of Congress. The petitions and letters called on Congress to pass bold investments in climate, justice, jobs, and clean energy in order to achieve energy security and independence.

“As long as we rely on fossil fuels, our economy and our families’ pocketbooks will be held hostage to the whims of dictators like Putin,” said Secretary Mabus. “America will be truly energy independent only when we use homegrown, alternative, and sustainable energy which isn’t subject to price spikes due to uncertainty and chaos. It’s an issue of national security.”

You can view a livestream of the event HERE.