NM-IPL Supports the ‘For the People Act’ (H.R. 1/S.1)

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Our democracy is sacred, and voting is a sacred act. In a democracy, it is the people who should have a voice, not corporate polluters. When fossil fuel polluters can buy the influence of policymakers through their campaign contributions, we the people lose our voice.

That’s why IPL is supporting the For The People Act, H.R.1 / S.1. The For The People Act will rein in corporate polluters’ destructive influence in political decision-making and give power back to the people. It is a chance to take money out of politics and focus on things that affect real people, like securing access to clean air and water.

This bill will:

  • Stop “dark money” from fossil fuels. The oil and gas industry spent about $140 million last year trying to get their preferred candidates elected, much of it through super PACs that disguise the identity of the giver. The For the People Act would bring this money into the light of day by requiring those PACs disclose the names of individuals giving more than $10,000. It would also set up a new system for public matching of grassroots donations, leveling the playing field for candidates funded by their constituents rather than fossil fuel CEOs.
  • Protect the rights of Black voters and Black churches. Over 40 states have introduced voter suppression laws already this year, but perhaps the most prominent example has come from Georgia. A new law there aims to limit voting access, including making it illegal for counties to allow early voting on Sundays—the day many Black churches hold “souls to the polls” drives. Many other proposed restrictions in Georgia and beyond target Black, Indigenous, and people of color voters, through discriminatory voter identification laws. The For the People Act would protect and expand early voting and vote by mail, and require states to have fair and equitable access to the ballot.

Make sure everyone’s vote counts. Valuing all people, not just the powerful, is a basic tenet of both our faith traditions and any functioning democracy. Gerrymandering, the process by which politicians draw district boundaries for unfair political advantage, is used by lawmakers to ensure that some communities have more political power than others. This For the People Act would prevent our neighbors having their votes diluted by ending partisan gerrymandering. A democracy is where voters choose their representatives, not the other way around!

NM-IPL Supports Effort to Build a Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure

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As Congress turns to rebuilding our economy and our infrastructure, we urge you to support policies that will safeguard Creation, address the impacts of climate change on our most vulnerable siblings, and fulfill our moral obligation to leave a habitable world for future generations. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, as well as low-income communities, have been hit the hardest by the triple health, economic, and environmental crises we face.

We need to invest with justice, and we call on Congress to meet President Biden’s campaign promise that 40% of all funds spent combating the climate crisis be spent in the environmental justice communities hurt the most by our current polluting economy.

Furthermore, the devastating winter storms of February and the massive wildfires of 2020 demonstrate the urgent need to upgrade our infrastructure, including our electrical grid, power supply, and water infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events that are becoming the new normal. \

The American Jobs Plan is a bold roadmap that will create jobs and tackle environmental injustice and the climate crisis. Interfaith Power & Light is excited to see this proposal, and yet we also know that more is needed.

We call on Congress to take up President Biden’s proposal and strengthen it to be in line with the THRIVE Act, a plan sized to meet the needs of our infrastructure and our climate. Specifically, we are excited to support an infrastructure package that does the following.

  • Modernize the grid and expand clean, renewable energy sources
    •  Sustainable infrastructure makes us better prepared for climate-fueled disastersl. We need to modernize our electrical grid, increasing its climate resiliency and ensuring it is prepared for a future with solar panels on every roof and wind turbines across the country.
    • Clean energy creates jobs and cuts air pollution, a win for both our communities and Creation. Now is the time for a national Clean Energy Standard to get to 100% net-zero climate pollution in electricity by 2035, while also expanding investments in clean energy tax credits for wind power, solar power, and more.
  • Upgrade our water infrastructure to ensure clean, pure water for all
    • 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 like the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund that help expand clean water access in rural communities.
  • Electrify transportation and expand public transit
    • Incentivize electric vehicles—from personal vehicles, to school buses, to commercial truck fleets and more. We must invest in battery technology and manufacturing, while also enacting policies that make it easier to buy electric vehicles, build charging infrastructure, and ensure they are affordable to all.
    • Invest in mass transit infrastructure and electrification. Nearly 3 million essential workers depend on safe, reliable public transportation—by extension, we all do. If our transit systems don’t make it through this crisis, it will be a disaster for both our communities and our climate. Congress should provide emergency funding to keep systems running during the crisis as well as longer-term investment aimed at expansion and electrification of existing services.
  • Include the RECLAIM Act (Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act – HR 2505)
    • The RECLAIM Act will distribute $1 billion for clean up and economic development in communities with abandoned coal mines. The Abandoned Mine Land (AML) funds are already collected and ready to use to clean up abandoned coal mines and the lands and waters polluted by them. AML restoration will also promote economic diversification, targeting our neighbors in the most economically distressed coal communities across the nation.

States and tribes can use the money to develop strategic mine reclamation projects that are linked to development projects on the reclaimed sites. The RECLAIM Act will assist communities struggling with job loss by diversifying their economies and creating jobs doing mine reclamation across the country.

A Very Busy Spring for Citizens Caring for the Future

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By Kayley Shoup

CCFF Organizer

As the pandemic has begun to lift CCFF Leaders have had a chance to meet in person once again, and we have lots of news to share! In early April Nathalie Eddy & Joan Brown, our incredible allies from up North, were able to make a trip down to Southeast New Mexico. It was wonderful to break bread with them, and just catch up and be in community with one another. It was much needed and a great reminder as to why we do this important work. Now onto the news!

Both Joan & Nathalie were extremely busy while they were in town. They truly are Superwomen if you ask us! Joan connected our new organizers, Chris & Kayley, with faith leaders in both Carlsbad and Hobbs that she knows through her work with “Interfaith Power & Light.” These are new and exciting connections that we believe will expand our community as we continue our work to raise awareness of the dangers of oil & gas production to our health and planet. Nathalie spent her time out in the field tracking methane pollution and reporting sites that were out of compliance as part of her work with “Earthworks.”

In addition to that strenuous work, she also took the time to meet with some local leaders from Carlsbad & Jal in order to show them the pollution & to educate them on the state of regulation (or lack thereof) in the Permian. Nathalie & Joan, along with a few of the leaders,  also took the time to meet with reporters. You can read the coverage of our time with Adrian Hedden at “The Current Argus” in this article entitled,  “It Doesn’t Feel Like Home Anymore”

After we said our goodbyes it was onto another busy week! On April 15th CCFF held a virtual community meeting where we heard from leaders around the state that have taken part in a “Health Impact Assessment.” There is little to no data on the health effects of oil & gas production in the Permian, and we are on a mission to change that! It was a wonderful & informative meeting where we seemed to acquire a roadmap as to how we can take on the huge task of organizing a HIA.

We also, for the first time, had Spanish interpreters present at our meeting. Joan has done incredible work to make sure that CCFF is inclusive to the Hispanic community, and we are proud to announce that our meetings going forward will include an interpreter! We will be posting the recording of the event in English and Spanish later this week. So make sure to check that out! You can read more about the speakers in this link

On the same week as our community meeting CCFF Leaders Gene Harbaugh & Kayley Shoup, along with Nathalie Eddy, spoke at a virtual press conference that was held with allies from the San Juan Basin. It was the first time that community members from the San Juan & Permian Basin have spoken out in unity. We are very excited to forge these new relationships with our brothers & sisters from the North, who face many of the same issues we do, and we know that it will make the work we do that much more impactful.

The press conference was held on the last day of public comment that the “Department of Interior” allowed as part of their investigation into the federal oil & gas leasing program. The impact statements shared were submitted as official comments. You can read coverage in this article entitled, Groups seek oil and gas leasing reform

Last but not least, we welcomed the incredible Penny Aucoin back to our leadership team! Penny is an outspoken voice for the health & safety of our community in the face of record oil & gas production, and we are so grateful to have her on board! You can check out a recent ad she worked on with “Methane Matters” by following the link below.

New Mexico Holds Opportunity To Craft Nation Leading Rules, But Proposed Loopholes Must First Be Closed

Exciting progress is being made on a federal and state level, as a new administration has taken over. We are grateful to have leaders that care for our environment, and we look forward to the progress that “Citizens Caring for the Future” will be able to make as a community!

(Citizens Caring for the Future (CCFF) brings together Southeastern New Mexico community members who support protecting our air, water and public health and safety during the current oil and gas boom in the Permian. Check out the work of CCFF)