The potential devastation to Arctic ecosystems, from climate damage, “is irreversible and irresponsible to future generations,” said Cantwell. “Oil companies already have record profits and access to drilling rights on millions of acres of public lands which they should be using to meet our current fossil fuel needs.”
Tag: Climate Crisis
Posted inPublic Service
Senator Maria Cantwell: A workhorse for the people and the Pacific Northwest in Congress
Cantwell, sixty-four, is not one of the usual suspects seen on networks’ Sunday morning talk shows or shouting over talk radio. She gets stuff done by mastering details, quiet work with colleagues and by serving on a trio of A‑list Senate committees where legislation is put together.
Posted inPolicy Topics
House Republicans vow to “unleash American energy” as big oil pipeline spill hits Kansas
The pipeline, owned by TC Energy, carries up to 600,000 barrels a day of heavy oil from the tar stands of northern Alberta to Cumberland, Oklahoma. This isn’t the first time it has ruptured.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Vice President Kamala Harris promotes clean school bus grant program in Seattle visit
Five school districts in Washington State will join 384 others in receiving funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to buy new electric school buses, the Biden-Harris administration announced during a special event held at Lumen Field.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Pacific Northwest grapples with an increasing number of wildfires as summer’s end nears
The skies above many areas of the Pacific Northwest grew smokier Saturday as the number of wildfires plaguing the region increased in number and severity, leading to a fresh round of highway closures and property evacuations with only days left until the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Republicans reaffirm their tight embrace of fossil fuels during a sweltering summer
The summer of 2022 has seen a disconnect between Republican politicians of the South, Midwest and Mountain West, and the sweltering, drought-stricken states they represent in Washington, D.C.
Posted inOur Environment
Inflation Reduction Act passes the U.S. House, heads to President Joe Biden’s desk
The historic climate and health focused Inflation Reduction Act is one of the most consequential environmental bills ever enacted by Congress. It now heads to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Seattle, TreePAC prevail over Master Builders in tree protection ordinance legal skirmish
Seattle Hearing Examiner Ryan Vancil rejected a challenge brought by the Master Builders of King and Snohomish counties to the city’s determination that an update of its tree protection ordinance would not have would not have probable significant adverse impacts on the environment.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
A win for America! U.S. Senate passes climate and health focused Inflation Reduction Act
“Today, Senate Democrats sided with American families over special interests, voting to lower the cost of prescription drugs, health insurance, and everyday energy costs and reduce the deficit, while making the wealthiest corporations finally pay their fair share,” said President Joe Biden in a special statement.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
Schumer, Manchin announce agreement on major climate and health focused budget bill
“This is the action the American people have been waiting for,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “This addresses the problems of today – high health care costs and overall inflation – as well as investments in our energy security for the future.”
Posted inPolicy Topics
Marko Liias chosen to chair the Washington State Senate’s Transportation Committee
“As we face dramatic changes to transportation revenue and mobility options, this is our moment to write a visionary, equitable, climate-focused transportation package that invests in our shared priorities while respecting our real and unique local needs,” Liias said.
Posted inPolicy Topics
House of Representatives approves historic Build Back Better Act, sending it to the Senate
At 6:44 AM Pacific on November 19th, 2021, by a vote of 220–213, the House adopted H.R. 5376, known as the Build Back Better Act, after Biden’s campaign slogan, with all but one Democrat in favor and all Republicans opposed.
Posted inPolicy Topics
PNWcurrents Episode V is live: This month, we discuss the impacts of climate damage
Read the release announcement for the fifth episode of PNWcurrents, NPI’s uniquely regional podcast. This episode features climatologists Karin Bumbaco of Washington, Larry W. O’Neill of Oregon, and Jeffrey Hicke of Idaho, who joined NPI’s Caya Berndt to discuss the impacts of climate damage on the Pacific Northwest.
Posted inOur Environment
Netroots Nation 2021 welcomes Tlaib, Barnes, Neguse, Granholm, McCarthy at first plenary
Read NPI’s recap of the opening plenary session at Netroots Nation 2021, which featured Rashida Tlaib, Mandela Barnes, Joe Neguse, Jennifer Granholm, Gina McCarthy, and several other speakers.