Ameer Randolph
Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky and Nanette Barragan reintroduced the Future Generations Protection Act of 2023, which aims to ensure a rapid shift away from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy. Schakowsky stated that the 21st century demands drastic actions to mitigate climate change and pollution. Similarly, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has criticized the US's continued approval of fossil fuel projects, stating that the movement to end fossil fuels must become too big and too radical to ignore. Other Congress members such as Carolyn B. Maloney and Ro Khanna have also been vocal about the fossil fuel industry's role in spreading disinformation and preventing action on climate change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Jan Schakowsky |
| Position | U.S. Representative |
| Legislation | Future Generations Protection Act of 2023 |
| Goal | Rapid shift away from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy |
| Target | Ban on new fossil fuel power plants, fracking, and crude oil and natural gas exports |
| Supporters | Nanette Barragan, Aaditi Lele, Gladys Delgadillo, Talia Calnek-Sugin |
| Criticized | Biden administration's approval of fossil fuel projects, such as the Willow project in Alaska |
| Other Congresswomen | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Carolyn B. Maloney, Nanette Barragán |
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What You'll Learn
- Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Nanette Barragán reintroduce the Future Generations Protection Act of 2023
- The Act aims to shift from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy
- Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leads a march to end fossil fuels in New York City
- Ocasio-Cortez criticizes the US's continued approval of fossil fuel projects
- Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney exposes the fossil fuel industry's greenwashing campaign and climate disinformation
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Nanette Barragán reintroduce the Future Generations Protection Act of 2023
On June 27, 2024, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Nanette Barragán (CA-44) reintroduced the Future Generations Protection Act of 2023. This legislation aims to ensure a rapid transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy sources. The bill addresses the urgent need to mitigate climate change and its impacts, which have been increasingly evident in recent years, such as record wildfires, extreme droughts, heatwaves, and stronger storms.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky stated, "The 21st century demands drastic actions to mitigate climate change and pollution. I am proud to introduce the Future Generations Protection Act with Rep. Barragán. Not only will this legislation ban greenhouse gas emissions from all new power plants, end hydraulic fracking, and ban crude oil and natural gas exports, but, most importantly, it will make our planet more habitable for future generations." Schakowsky emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change, highlighting that the summer of 2023 was the hottest ever recorded.
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, in support of the Act, said, "Communities of color are hit first and worst by the climate crisis. [...] As Democrats in Congress and President Biden work to make record investments in clean energy to reduce pollution and create millions of green jobs, we need to reduce fossil fuel infrastructure - not expand it and work against the progress we're poised to make." She joined Congresswoman Schakowsky in recognizing that increasing dependence on fossil fuels threatens the habitability of our planet, both now and in the future.
The reintroduced Future Generations Protection Act has received support from various organizations and individuals. Aaditi Lele, Policy Director for Zero Hour, praised the bill as a "comprehensive approach to achieving the necessary goal of curbing climate pollution." Gladys Delgadillo, a climate organizer with the Center for Biological Diversity, commended Representatives Schakowsky and Barragán for their leadership and standing out among world leaders in calling for an end to fossil fuel infrastructure expansion. Talia Calnek-Sugin, from the Sierra Club, applauded the strong message sent by the Act, emphasizing the need to curb the expansion of the oil and gas industry to align with U.S. and global climate goals.
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The Act aims to shift from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy
The Future Generations Protection Act of 2023, reintroduced by U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Nanette Barragán, is a significant piece of legislation aimed at addressing the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy sources. This Act recognizes the incompatibility of increasing dependence on fossil fuels with maintaining a habitable planet, both now and in the future. The legislation is a bold step forward in the fight against climate change and pollution, with specific measures designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions and end the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.
The Act's comprehensive approach targets key aspects of the fossil fuel industry, including hydraulic fracking and the export of crude oil and natural gas, which contribute significantly to global warming and climate change. By banning greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants and ending the practice of hydraulic fracking, the Act seeks to reduce the environmental impact of energy production and move towards cleaner alternatives. Additionally, the legislation aims to prohibit the Federal Energy Resources Commission from approving new liquified natural gas terminal siting or construction unless it directly contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Representatives Schakowsky and Barragán have emphasized the urgency of taking drastic action to mitigate climate change and its devastating effects, such as record wildfires, extreme droughts, heat waves, and stronger storms. They are joined by Aaditi Lele, Policy Director for Zero Hour, who supports the Act's goal of curbing climate pollution and phasing out fossil fuels to ensure safe, healthy, and equitable futures for frontline communities. The Act also addresses the disproportionate impact of the climate crisis on communities of color, who are often the first and worst affected by these environmental challenges.
The introduction of the Future Generations Protection Act has received widespread support from leading environmental organizations and climate activists. Talia Calnek-Sugin, Associate Director of Legislative and Administrative Advocacy at the Sierra Club, praised the legislation as a strong message to reverse the expansion of the fossil fuel industry. The Act also aligns with the efforts of President Biden and Democrats in Congress to invest in clean energy, reduce pollution, and create millions of green jobs. By shifting away from fossil fuels, the Act aims to foster a more sustainable and equitable future for generations to come.
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Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leads a march to end fossil fuels in New York City
On 17 September 2023, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led tens of thousands of climate activists through the streets of New York City in a march to end fossil fuels. The rally, which ended near the UN headquarters, was held just before world leaders gathered for the UN General Assembly and a UN Climate Ambition Summit. Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd that the movement must become "too big and too radical to ignore". She criticised the US for continuing to approve fossil fuel projects, such as the controversial Willow project in Alaska.
"We are all here for one reason: to end fossil fuels around the planet," Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd, adding that the US "must send a message" about its support for the fossil fuel industry. Ocasio-Cortez's comments come after US President Biden came under fire for approving oil projects.
The march was the largest climate protest in the US since the start of the pandemic, and demonstrated the "tremendous grit and fight" of those demanding change for the future. Jean Su of the Center for Biological Diversity, who helped organise the mobilisation, said that the action showed that people wanted climate action and understood that Biden's expansion of fossil fuels was "squandering our last chance to avoid climate catastrophe".
The rally also featured a speech from a native of Louisiana, who highlighted the fight of environmental justice activists to end petrochemical buildout in the southwest US.
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Ocasio-Cortez criticizes the US's continued approval of fossil fuel projects
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the US's continued approval of fossil fuel projects at the "March to End Fossil Fuels" rally in New York City on September 17, 2023. Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democrat, addressed a crowd of tens of thousands of climate activists who had taken to the streets to demand an end to fossil fuels.
In her speech, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the need for the movement to become "too big and too radical to ignore." She criticized the Biden administration for approving controversial fossil fuel projects, such as the Willow project in Alaska. Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the United States' record number of fossil fuel leases, calling for an end to fossil fuels around the planet. She encouraged global climate action and urged world leaders gathering at the nearby UN headquarters for the UN General Assembly and the UN Climate Ambition Summit to take note of the powerful message sent by the march.
Ocasio-Cortez's remarks echoed the sentiments of other environmental advocates, such as Jean Su of the Center for Biological Diversity, who organized the mobilization. Su stated that Biden's expansion of fossil fuels was squandering the opportunity to avoid a climate catastrophe. The march also included Indigenous leaders and youth climate activists, such as Vanessa Nakate from Uganda, who emphasized the need for climate justice.
The "March to End Fossil Fuels" in New York City was a significant display of public sentiment, demonstrating the growing demand for urgent climate action and a transition away from fossil fuels. Ocasio-Cortez's criticism of the US's continued approval of fossil fuel projects added to the chorus of voices calling for a rapid shift towards renewable energy sources to address the climate crisis.
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Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney exposes the fossil fuel industry's greenwashing campaign and climate disinformation
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, has been vocal about the fossil fuel industry's greenwashing campaigns and climate disinformation. In February 2024, she released documents exposing the industry's deceptive practices. Despite publicly acknowledging the climate crisis, fossil fuel companies have no plans to reduce their long-term investments in fossil fuels or transition to clean energy.
Maloney, along with Rep. Ro Khanna, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Environment, initiated an investigation into the fossil fuel industry's efforts to spread disinformation. They subpoenaed ExxonMobil, BP America, Chevron, Shell Oil, and the American Petroleum Institute, among others, to testify about their role in causing and covering up the climate crisis. Maloney's staff analysis revealed that these companies devote only a fraction of their lobbying resources to supporting climate measures, despite pledging support for climate reforms.
During the hearing, fossil fuel CEOs admitted that climate change is real, caused by human activities, and exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels. They also acknowledged the urgency of the climate crisis as an "existential threat" to the planet. However, they refused to take responsibility for their decades of disinformation and would not commit to ending spending to obstruct climate action. Maloney challenged the CEOs to pledge to stop spending money to oppose efforts to address climate change, but several CEOs declined.
The investigation also uncovered strategic efforts by the industry to secure legitimacy to continue producing fossil fuels. For example, BP advocated for methane regulation to "advance and protect the role of gas" in the energy sector. Additionally, internal documents revealed that while Chevron publicly expressed support for the Paris Agreement goals, they continued to invest heavily in fossil fuels to take advantage of industry consolidation. These actions highlight the fossil fuel industry's greenwashing campaigns and commitment to long-term fossil fuel reliance.
Congresswoman Maloney's efforts, along with those of Congressman Khanna, have been crucial in exposing the fossil fuel industry's deception and failure to address the climate crisis. Their work has brought to light the industry's misleading practices and lack of accountability, despite acknowledging the reality of climate change.
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Frequently asked questions
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky reintroduced the Future Generations Protection Act of 2023, which aims to ban greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants, end hydraulic fracking, and ban crude oil and natural gas exports. She said, "The 21st century demands drastic actions to mitigate climate change and pollution."
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán supported the Future Generations Protection Act, saying, "Communities of color are hit first and worst by the climate crisis. [...] As Democrats in Congress and President Biden work to make record investments in clean energy to reduce pollution and create millions of green jobs, we need to reduce fossil fuel infrastructure—not expand it."
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at a rally in New York City, saying, "We are all here for one reason: to end fossil fuels around the planet. [...] The United States continues to approve a record number of fossil fuel leases, and we must send a message right here today."
Congresswoman Cori Bush called out fossil fuel companies for promoting environmental racism and violence in Black and Brown communities. She said, "Your profit-driven choices threaten my life, the lives of my family, my neighbors, and our communities every single day. [...] You all are still promoting and selling fossil fuels that are killing millions of people."
