For Immediate Release
Friday, November 19, 2021.
Contact: Krizia López Arce, [email protected], 407-509-0860
Tallahassee, FL/ Orlando, FL —In celebration of the House of Representatives passing the Build Back Better Act on November 19th, Florida Conservation Voters (FCV) and Chispa Florida issued the following statement:
Aliki Moncrief, Executive Director, Florida Conservation Voters
“For years the people of Florida have joined with others from around the nation to sound the alarm of climate change and urge Congress to make serious investments to mitigate ongoing harm to our environment and communities. Today, we join the celebration of the passage of the Build Back Better Act. This once-in-a-generation climate legislation will bring positive change to our communities, our nation, and the world. Through BBBA, the largest effort to combat climate change in American history, residents of Florida will soon have cleaner air, safer drinking water, and a more just and equitable environmental policy. FCV celebrates this momentous achievement alongside our congressional champions (name names if we appropriate). Looking forward, we are eager to work with local and state elected leaders to implement the opportunities of the Build Back Better Act, the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, and American Rescue Plan Act to address our climate crisis, advance environmental injustice, and secure a clean energy-powered future for all.”
Maria Revelles, FCV’s Chispa Florida Program Director added:
“Chispa Florida celebrates the passage of the Build Back Better Act. Our communities have borne the brunt of climate change and environmental injustice. We thank our champions in Congress who have been supporting and accelerating the Build Back Better Act which advances environmental justice through a new Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator that will invest in projects around the country, while delivering 40% of the benefits of investment to disadvantaged communities, as part of the President’s Justice40 initiative. The framework will also fund port electrification; facilitate the deployment of cleaner transit, school buses, and support critical community capacity building, including grants to environmental justice communities. In addition, the framework will create a new Civilian Climate Corps – with over 300,000 members that look like America. This diverse new workforce will conserve our public lands, bolster community resilience, and address the changing climate, all while putting good-paying union jobs within reach for more Americans.”