Tell your U.S. Senators to Take Action Now Against Dangerous Greenhouse Gas “Super Pollutant” HFCs

Citizen engagement is an essential aspect of our democracy — all the time: Advocacy is particularly important at this moment because special interests may use this time to advance their agendas to the detriment of the people and the environment. Our members of Congress need to know we are still paying attention. See the “4 Things You Can Do Now” below. 

Capitol Hill Visits: Due to COVID-19 our UUSJ Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps is not able to make office visits and deliver letters personally to Senators’ offices. But we will contact and email the letters to the appropriate Senate staff. This helps us maintain and build relationships for the long haul. Please write letters for delivery through UUSJ, and/or call or send a message to your Senators then and let us know about your congregation’s efforts.

The issue: To address the climate crisis we must reduce harmful greenhouse gases. A bipartisan, bicameral bill now in the House and Senate can help make that happen, while creating new jobs. The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM) 2019, S.2754 will reduce damaging hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 85% over 15 years. Pound-for-pound, HFCs are more potent drivers of warming than carbon dioxide. The AIM act is a critical solution to decrease harmful gases caused by air conditioning, refrigeration and many other applications and replace them with environmentally-sound alternatives. The bill is supported by environmental and business communities. We have a rare opportunity to advance bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will enhance the environment, create jobs and grow the economy.

Read our WHWN Handout with issue details, background, talking points and a sample letter. And register here for the 4/24 Letter-Writing Party via Zoom Video Conference  to learn more about conducting virtual advocacy and about the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM) 2019, S.2754. We will also let you know about an upcoming Action Alert for regulatory comment to EPA on “silencing science.”

4 Things You Can Do Now

1 – Write letters – organize members of your congregation to Write Here! Write Now! (WHWN) letters and deliver by Thursday, May 14 by 6pmET. 

Due to COVID-19 our UUSJ Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps is not able to make office visits and deliver letters personally to Senators’ offices. But we will contact and email the letters to the appropriate Senate staff. This helps us maintain and build relationships for the long haul.  Link to the WHWN Handout.

How should we conduct WHWN! at a time of physical distancing?

• Consider hosting an online letter-writing event (utilizing Zoom, Skype, or another online video conferencing platform). This is a good way to maintain a sense of community for many people who are feeling isolated. Maybe host it as a happy hour, or gather virtually after your online Sunday service. If you don’t have your own Zoom account, contact your congregation as they might have the service. A free Zoom account allows for 40-minute meetings but you can extend it with a quick re-invitation of the group. Review the Virtual WHWN letter-writing and advocacy Frequently Asked Questions and Answers generated during (and after) our March 29 brainstorming sessions with WHWN partners. Check out these Tips from UUA on conducting virtual live streaming events.
• Want to write your members of Congress regularly? UUSJ offers a monthly letter-writing campaign. We send you a promotional announcement to adapt, and WHWN issue handout. Want to explore becoming a partner? Contact Lavona Grow at advocacy@uusj.org.

How do I submit letters? 

• Submit your letters online using our new WHWN Letter Submission Form to send your congregations letters (bulk scanned or single letters). Individuals may use it too. You just need to answer a few questions, then attach your document or scanned letters.
• Mail your letters to UUSJ c/o Lavona Grow (see address on WHWN Handout), or scan and email your letters to advocacy@uusj.org. Letters should arrive no later than Thursday, May 14 by 6:00pmET.
  
  • Want to mail your letters but don’t want to go to the Post Office? Consider a bulk snail mail service like MailForm.

2 – Call your Senators

Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121- you’ll be connected to your Senator’s office.

3 – Send an online message

To find contact information (phone, website, D.C. office, etc.) for your members of Congress visit these websites or Google your member and go to the D.C. office page. On their webpage, you’ll find an online email form to send a message. 

• GovTrack to search by your address for Representatives and Senators
• Find Your US Senator – Senate official site.
• U.S. House of Representatives – to search by state or Representative’s name

Suggested message – adapt for your call or online email message

Check to see if your Senators are co-sponsors of the bill. If your Senators are already co-sponsoring, thank them.

Hello, my name is [your name]. I’m a constituent from [city, state]. I am a Unitarian Universalist from [optional name of congregation and location]. 

I’m concerned for the environment and for people who suffer most from the effects of a warming planet. I urge [Senator’s name] to co-sponsor [Check to see if your senators are a co-sponsor. if yes, thank them, if not urge them to become a co-sponsor] the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act 2019, S.2754 which addresses the dangers of heat-trapping hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and creates jobs by generating alternatives to HFCs. [if you don’t know the Senator’s position on the bill ask…] What is the Senator’s position on this bill? [response, if they don’t know ask for someone to get back to you with an answer] 

[Add a personal concern (health-related clean air – asthma, etc.) or story from your community or state, etc.] 

The bill is still pending a vote in the Committee on Environment and Public Works. I want to urge the Senator to speak up [and co-sponsor] in support of the AIM Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by supporting this common-sense bipartisan legislation.  

Thank you.

4 – Use Social Media

After sending your letters, consider Tweeting your Senators or posting on their Facebook page thanking or urging co-sponsorship of the bill, post a talking point with your personal twist on it,  etc. Use the hashtag #Faith4Climate.

Return to the WHWN Earth Day 50th Anniversary Virtual Letter-Writing Campaign home page.