NM Faith Leaders Add Their Voices to Letter Urging Congress to Pass Sustainable Infrastructure Bill

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More than 40 New Mexicans  were among the hundreds of faith leaders nationwide who signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urging Congress to pass a bold economic recovery and infrastructure package that creates family and community sustaining jobs while caring for our climate and our neighbors.

We urge you to support historic levels of investment that will safeguard Creation, address the impacts of climate change and pollution from fossil fuel extraction and related industries, and fulfill our moral obligation to leave a habitable world for future generations. Black, Indigenous, and people of color(BIPOC) and low-income communities have been hit the hardest by the triple health, economic,and environmental crises we face. The needs of these communities must be at the center of any infrastructure package. 

Read full letter

Read quotes from four national faith leaders

In New Mexico, faith leaders from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Taos, Carlsbad, Raton, Chapparral,  Jemez Springs, Gallup signed the letter. A separate version of the letter will go directly to our congressional delegation.

Rev. Talitha Arnold, United Church of Santa Fe

Tanya Barlow, United Methodist Women Conference Vice President, New Mexico Conference

Rev. Dr. Holly Beaumont, InterfaithWorker Justice – New Mexico

Carolyn Begay, United Methodist Women Conference Spiritual Growth Coordinator, New Mexico Conference

Reverend Judy Bierbaum,

Rev Ronald Brooker, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Joan Brown, Executive Director Sr.,Order Of St. Francis, New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light

Rose Marie Cecchini, Mm, Sr.,Maryknoll Sisters

Alfred Chavez, St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Parish

Dr. Gene Chorostecki

Rev. Edward Church, Church of the Good Shepherd, Albuquerque,

Catherine Clemons, Sister, Catholic Church in Mobile, Alabama

Rev. Dr. Kenneth Cuthbertson, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – retired

Rev. Jean Darling, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe

Rev. Dr. Gregory Gaertner, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Andrew Gold, Maggid, Kol Ha Lev’

Dr. Michael Gregory

Dr. D. Hart

Caroline Mb Hess, Bahá’ís of the East Mountain

Rev Sue Joiner, First Congregational United Church of Christ

Rev. B. Gail Joralemon, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Albuquerque

Nicholas King, Pastor, Carlsbad Mennonite Church

Rev. George Kunkle, St. Bede’s Episcopal Church

The Rev. Benjamin Larzelere, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America(Evangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica) Retired

Rev. Erica Lea-Simka, Albuquerque Mennonite Church

Dr. Reeve Love

Dr. Alston Lundgren, Retired

Rev James Marshall

Patricia Masterman, Deacon, Holy Family Episcopal Church

Anne Morawski, Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Dr. Nathan Nielsen

Dr. A. Obermeier

Rev. George Packard, Wisconsin Conference United Methodist Church

Nancy Poe, Raton United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Dusty Pruitt, United Church of  Christ

Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld, Congregation Albert

Dr. Emily Rothman,

Anne Salaun, Sr., Assumption Sisters Chaparral NM

Laura Sandison, Albuquerque, NM

Rev. Pamela Shepherd, Taos United Community Church

Charlotte Smith, Baha’i

Sue Stefford-Grey, President of the Board, First Christian Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Dr. Shari Tarbet

Rev. Glen Thamert, Jemez Peacemakers

The Rev. Daniel J. Webster, Episcopal Church

Faith Leaders Needed to Sign Letter Calling on Congress to Support Climate and Clean Energy Infrastructure

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Interfaith Power & Light (at the national level) is asking faith leaders around the country (including New Mexico) to add their name to this sign on letter to Congress calling for critical investments in climate and clean energy as we rebuild our economy.

Click Here to Add Your Name

The deadline is June 9th.

Here is the text of the letter

Dear Members of Congress,

As leaders from many diverse faith traditions, we are united in our call for a bold economic recovery and infrastructure package that creates family and community sustaining jobs while caring for our climate and our neighbors. It is the moral responsibility of our nation, and our sacred task as people of faith, to protect our ecosystems, work for environmental justice and public health, and address the climate crisis. 

We urge you to support historic levels of investment that will safeguard Creation, address the impacts of climate change and pollution from fossil fuel extraction and related industries, and fulfill our moral obligation to leave a habitable world for future generations. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and low-income communities have been hit the hardest by the triple health, economic, and environmental crises we face. The needs of these communities must be at the center of any infrastructure package.

As we move from COVID relief to economic recovery, this moment offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in the clean energy future while addressing the injustices of the past. We can achieve that by:

  • Expanding clean, renewable energy and modernizing our electric grid

We can accelerate the transition to clean energy by passing a national Clean Energy Standard that achieves 100% renewable, pollution free electricity by 2035, while also expanding investments in wind and solar power. 

  • Electrify transportation and expand public transit

Now is the time to invest in American-made electric vehicles, build charging stations across the country, and make sure they are affordable to all. We can also connect our communities and reduce pollution by electrifying and expanding public transit. 

  • Clean water infrastructure for all communities

Too many communities, especially in low-income urban neighborhoods and in Indigenous communities, don’t have access to clean water. We must invest in lead pipe remediation, as well as programs that provide clean water to rural communities.

  • Invest with justice

BIPOC and low-income communities have been harmed the most by both this pandemic and our centuries of investment in fossil fuel infrastructure. Our understanding of justice demands that these communities must be at the center of our investments going forward. Specifically, we call for these communities, forced to bear an unequal burden of pollution and pandemic, to receive at least 40% of the investments. Additionally, to ensure a just transition, we must support dislocated workers and investment in communities historically dependent on fossil fuels.

Sincerely,

So much depends upon the sacred act of voting!

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At NM IPL there are several prongs to our work. Many of you are involved in one or more of these prongs.

*Education and Inspiration or prayer, meditation and rituals

*Hands on actions for energy efficiency, solar installation, food production, tree planting, supporting local agriculture

*Public policy Advocacy

Regarding the third prong we are so grateful for more and more people of faith and or conscience stepping up in so many ways. Here are a few.
  • Meetings this month with Congressional delegates as part of national IPL effort to discuss the For the People Act, HR1 and S1 getting “dark money” out of voting and supporting voting rights. We also addressed Building Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures with the American Jobs Plan and the THRIVE Act. NM IPL folks from Gallup, Jemez, Carlsbad, and Albuquerque attended zoom meetings with leaders.
  • Thank you to a number of folks who have signed up to speak in support of EPA methane rules at a federal online EPA hearing!! We have folks from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, and Carlsbad.
  • The Policy Advocacy Group meets monthly. The next meeting is June 2 at 9 am on zoom. Everyone is invited to be on the list to get notes and invitations for actions or attend the meetings. Just send a note to joan@nm-ipl.org.

Finally, there is a special election in Congressional District 1 now until June 1. VOTING IS A SACRED ACT. If you are in this district, or have friends and family in this district, PLEASE VOTE for the candidate of your choice because voting is a sacred responsibility for the Common Good, our neighbors and Sacred Creation!!!

Here is VOTING INFO where you can find voting locations and times:

 

Much peace and gratefulness,
Joan Brown,osf, Executive Director