Senate Democrats Seek Input From Public On Climate Impacts, Policy Solutions

WASHINGTON — Today, the members of the U.S. Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis published an open letter to all who are interested requesting input on how extreme weather and climate change are impacting communities, businesses, and families across the country, as well as policy ideas for tackling the crisis.

“The committee has heard from a range of Americans from different walks of life about how climate change will impact individuals, states, communities, businesses, and families across the nation,” the senators wrote. “We hope to hear from you as well.”

The committee, led by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), requests that all replies be sent to climate_input@schatz.senate.gov before June 19, 2020.

The full letter is available here and below.

Dear Climate Stakeholders:

The Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis is writing to ask for your input on the types and scale of approaches needed to address our climate crisis. The committee has heard from a range of Americans from different walks of life about how climate change will impact individuals, states, communities, businesses, and families across the nation. We hope to hear from you as well.

Please tell us how climate change is already affecting you, your family, your business, and your community, and how the Congress can best facilitate the transition to a clean economy and a healthier environment for the benefit of all Americans. Below are some questions to prompt ideas.

1. How has climate change impacted you, your family, and your community?
2. Are there existing programs or strategies that you or your community are using to address climate change that could be implemented at the federal level?
3. What national policies do you currently support that will mitigate climate change and improve American lives?
4. What types of federal investments do you see getting the biggest return in terms of mitigating climate impacts?
5. Have federal incentives prompted you or others in your community to purchase electricity from renewable sources, an electric car, or other low-emission technologies? If current incentives have not, what types of incentives might be more appealing?

We truly appreciate hearing your perspective as we undertake this important task.

Please send your comments to climate_input@schatz.senate.gov by June 19, 2020. Please note in your response if you do not want your comment to be posted publicly or quoted in a public summary report.

Sincerely, 

###