To: Interested Parties
From: Jennessa Agnew, National Field Director, LCV
Date: October 6, 2021
Re: Virginians demand climate action NOW

We are in the midst of one of the biggest pushes for climate action in our nation’s history as members of Congress work to finalize the Build Back Better Act. President Biden, House Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Schumer have made it clear that the bipartisan infrastructure framework must move in tandem with the Build Back Better Act with a new deadline of October 31st. From the ‘code red’ IPCC report, to devastating climate change-fueled hurricanes and tropical storms, scorching heat waves, drought, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that have impacted nearly 1 in 3 people in America just this summer, voters have had enough and it has never been more urgent for Congress to act on climate. Since launching in late June, LCV’s field program has been on the ground in Virginia and across the country, knocking on over 260,000 doors, and nearly 13,000 households and 9,000 businesses are displaying “Climate Action Now” signs in their neighborhoods. 

In Virginia, voters from Richmond to Midlothian to Virginia Beach have shared their concerns about extreme weather, climate injustice, and the overall 1health of the planet and they are stepping up by calling their representatives and demanding they take climate action now. 

• Virginia Beach, VA: Eugenio is very concerned about extreme weather events happening across the country — from the wildfires in California to the increase in flooding happening in his own community — and can’t understand why there are still people who deny the existence of climate change. In his neighborhood, flooding has been extreme in the past years — so bad that after raining for a week, water stood past the tires of his son’s car, and if you walked out to the street, the flood waters would rise above your knees. 

• Richmond, VA: Joann, founder of an adult-learning academy, is very concerned about the threat of climate change and wants to do everything in her power to help raise awareness and call for action.

• Richmond, VA: Michael, owner of a beauty salon, says that if they keep getting intense storms in the area like they’ve experienced lately, then flooding in Richmond will really become a serious issue. He hopes his representatives in Congress continue to take action on the climate crisis.

• Richmond, VA: Neil, a staffer for Congresswoman Spanberger, engages directly with the district’s Spanish-speaking community. He talks about the fact that these communities are the ones who experience some of the worst effects of environmental racism. 

• Virginia Beach, VA: The climate crisis is one of Robin’s biggest concerns, which is why she is very enthusiastic about Congress taking bold and immediate action on climate. She is currently working to get solar panels on her house. 

• Richmond, VA: Cameron and Keyan, co-owners of a local business, are completely on board with investing in clean energy jobs and understand the urgency of the climate crisis. They’re showing their support in any way possible and hope Congress acts to take climate action now.

• Midlothian, VA: Mohammad previously worked as an oil engineer, but got away from that line of work as the peak oil scare developed. He believes the world needs to move away from such dirty fuel sources that are not renewable and make the transition to a clean energy future, and he hopes Congress will see this through.

• Richmond, VA: Rabih, the owner of a Lebanese bakery, supports Congress investing in clean energy jobs. He is showing his support for this cause by signing petitions calling on his representatives to act now and displaying information in his shop for customers to see.