Sacramento Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), co-chair of theHouse Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), and Reps. Joe Neguse (CO-02), Steve Cohen (TN-09), and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) led a group of 61 lawmakers in introducing a resolution to celebrate Earth Day 2023. The resolution commemorates recent historic environmental actions to improve the health and wellbeing of our planet, while also reaffirming the work that still needs to be done to achieve a habitable future for our nation. 

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in celebrating Earth Day as a recognition of our shared responsibility to ensure the health and preservation of our planet,” said Congresswoman Matsui.“In previous years, I co-led this Resolution with the late Congressman Donald McEachin, and today, I am proud to honor his legacy as a tireless advocate for the environment. Now more than ever before, we are seeing the direct impact of the climate crisis on our communities and our environment. Last Congress, we made historic progress in the fight against climate change with the transformational investments in the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—but this is only a downpayment. Sustained bold action is critical to preserve our planet for today and for future generations to come.”

“This Earth Day, we recommit ourselves to our shared goal of protecting our environment and ensuring future generations inherit a healthy, livable planet,” said Rep. Neguse. “Together, with over 50 of our colleagues who’ve signed onto our resolution honoring Earth Day, we commit ourselves to taking action against the climate and biodiversity crises.”

“We’ve taken great strides under the Biden Administration and the previous Congress when it comes to protecting our environment against climate change,” said Rep. Cohen. “From an Infrastructure bill that delivered historic investment in renewable energies, clean transportation and more, to the Inflation Reduction Act, which is providing new incentives to help accelerate America’s transition to a clean energy economy, we’ve turned long sought-after climate goals into real, tangible results. What’s certain, however, is that we’ve still got a fight on our hands. There’s much more we need to do to protect our environment, including threatened and endangered species, and to make clean energy technology available to citizens in every ZIP code, and we know there are those in and outside of Congress who would seek to roll back much of our hard-won progress. I am committed to stepping back up to the plate as many times as it takes to protect our clean air, clean water, and our natural heritage in Memphis, and I hope all my colleagues will join me in doing so today on Earth Day.”

“Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, congressional Democrats have made important progress in our efforts to address the climate crisis, but the fight is far from over,” said Rep. McClellan. “Our communities are witnessing the adverse impacts of climate change increase in frequency and severity, and they will only continue to worsen if decisive action is not taken. Earth Day is an important reminder of the pressing need to preserve our environment and ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for the next generation. I am proud to help lead this Earth Day resolution alongside my SEEC colleagues.” 

Congresswoman Matsui has long been a champion of bold climate action. She co-chairs the SEEC Nature and Oceans Task Force with Congressman Neguse, which focuses on actions that prioritize natural climate solutions (NCS). The task force works closely with Congressional colleagues, experts, and the Biden administration to harness the power of public lands and waters in the fight against the climate crisis.

Read the resolution here.

Original source can be found here