$3.5T Isn't Enough to Stop Climate Change and Create Jobs, House Must Go Bigger to Match Scale of Crisis

As Senate Democrats announced their top line dollar amount for reconciliation, Lauren Maunus, Advocacy Director for Sunrise Movement, released the following statement:

"Sunrise has been calling for a $1 trillion investment per year over the next 10 years because that's what science demands to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs. The climate crisis is undeniably here. Families are losing their loved ones to scorching heat waves, homes are being swept up by hurricanes in the Gulf South - and yet, our politicians are refusing to act in line with the scope of the crisis.

"The House must go bigger than what the Senate has proposed to match the scale and urgency of the climate crisis. Even an investment of $1 trillion a year is modest. It is far smaller in scale than the $5 trillion in emergency relief funding that Congress passed over the last year, and even smaller when compared to the future cost of climate disasters and economic support for the un- and under-employed.

"Our leaders must take this crisis seriously. This is the first time since 2009 that Democrats have control of both chambers of Congress and the White House. They cannot afford to waste this opportunity. The House must put forward a larger investment than this and hold the line on what we need. Climate priorities cannot be cut. We expect Democrats to pass the boldest budget resolution before they go home for recess, and a robust infrastructure package soon after. There should be no compromise and no excuses to get this done."

This comes after Sunrise Movement's June 4th and June 28th protests at the White House and the conclusion of three marches - in PA, CA, and the Gulf South - to call on Biden to pass an infrastructure package that meets the scale and scope of the climate crisis, specifically with a fully funded CCC.