Michigan LCV urges passage of President Biden’s Build Back Better Plan in tandem with federal infrastructure investments

Vote on once-in-a-generation climate and jobs legislation as early as Monday evening

LANSING — The Michigan League of Conservation Voters today issued the following statement ahead of an expected vote urging Congress to pass President Biden’s Build Back Better Plan, a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that would make sweeping investments in clean energy, electric vehicles, union jobs and action on climate change.

“President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda is the single-most significant investment in our country’s history to transition our economy, create good union jobs and tackle the climate crisis. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and we are calling on Congress to pass this critical legislation now,” said Lisa Wozniak, executive director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “We are seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand in Michigan with regular 100-year storms that flood our homes, highways and threaten our health. We call on lawmakers in our Michigan delegation to support the President’s Build Back Better Agenda and deliver the kind of investment we need to address the climate crisis and protect the future of our children. It’s time to finish the job.”

The President’s twin initiatives — the infrastructure package, as well as a $3.5 trillion Build Back Better budget resolution — come as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report this month that found the Earth is warming at a faster rate than previously thought, and temperatures over the next two decades will exceed the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold the scientific community has warned against.  The report references this excessive warming as a “code red for humanity.”

“With the occurrence of ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ weather events taking place every year, we need to not just combat climate change head-on, but to also invest in infrastructure that can handle the effects we’re already seeing,” said State Representative Laurie Pohutsky. “I wholeheartedly support substantial investments in climate and infrastructure and am looking forward to watching this week’s vote.” 

“Climate change presents the single greatest threat of our lifetime, and by investing in clean energy and water infrastructure that will create good-paying jobs and bolster our economy, we can tackle the climate crisis and protect the health and safety of our communities,” said Oakland County Commissioner Gwen Markham. “The Build Back Better agenda gives us the opportunity to not only make critical investments in our nation’s aging infrastructure, but also to invest in our future. We cannot wait any longer. Now is the time for action.”