Thread by @CarolynBMaloney

1/ Once we have climate change under control, we'll have a truly #HappyEarthDay. Until then...

2/ I’m taking #EarthDay as a chance to reflect on my efforts to fight climate change and assess my action going forward. I’m a big believer in women being assertive and speaking out about our accomplishments. We don't do it enough. #ERANow

3/ Here's a list about my efforts on behalf of the planet - and my plans for the future. TY to the people of my district, #NY12, for letting me fight for the #environment on their behalf. #ERANow #CelebrateWomen #HappyEarthDay

Here goes.

4/ My first term in Congress, I introduced the National Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act to protect over 20 million acres of wilderness from development. Even then, I knew we had to tackle this issue. It was 1993, & we had 63 co-sponsors.

5/ In 1995, I introduced the bill again. It had 47 cosponsors.

6/ A few years later, I joined the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Caucus, established in 1996.

eesi.org/caucuses_reee

7/ In 1997, GOP (majority) Rep. Chris Shays re-introduced the National Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. I was one of 71 co-sponsors. The same happened in 1999, 2001, and 2003.

8/ In 2001, I supported amending the Mineral Leasing Act so $$ from oil and gas producers went to help low-income home energy assistance. Corporations should work towards the common good.

9/ In 2002, I helped obtain $65M for the Forest Legacy Program. I worked across the aisle with Rep. Jack Quinn to include full funding for the Adirondacks Lake Project and the New York Watershed project. #HappyEarthDay

10/ Together with our colleagues, we designated $2M to help protect land from development and help protect NYS's drinking water. #HappyEarthDay

11/ Government needs to make it easier for Americans to do their part in fighting climate change...

12/ ...In 2004, my bill HR 3724 with Rep. Shays offered mortgage insurance for housing projects that included:
* Solar energy improvements
*Renewable energy conservation matters

13/ (Last week, @NYCCouncil passed - among other things - the Dirty Buildings Bill, letting #NYC do even more to help save the planet.) #HappyEarthDay
ny.curbed.com/platform/amp/2…

14/ In 2007, I again introduced the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. We had 139 co-sponsors. I have re-introduced this act every single session of Congress since then.

15/ I supported the Carbon-Neutral Government Act of 2007.

16/ What's your gas mileage? In 2007, I supported efforts to require 35mpg by 2020. At the time, average mileage was 25mpg. #HappyEarthDay

17/ (In 2012 I supported @BarackObama’s decision to increase the gas mileage standard to 54.5mpg by 2025.) #HappyEarthDay

18/ In 2008, I voted to cut federal subsidies to oil and gas producers in a bill that passed the house by 236-182.

19/ That bill was also intended to create thousands of new clean-energy jobs in the wind, solar geothermal and fuel cell industries.

20/ In 2009 I introduced legislation to get an accurate accounting of the on- and off-shore land under energy lease, because no one, really knew how much of our public lands were leased to oil & gas developers.

21/ As climate change progresses, we're experiencing more and more extreme weather events - we need solutions that don't use fossil fuels. #EarthDay

22/ In 2009, I voted for the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy & Security Act to cap and reduce GHG emissions. It passed the House but never got a vote in the Senate.

23/ The @LCVoters has given me a 97% rating on environmental issues in 2018 alone. #HappyEarthDay

24/ By 2010, Newtown Creek (my district, border of BK and QNS) was considered one of the dirtiest bodies of water in the US. I & colleagues spoke out to support a study and cleanup.

25/ As a result, @EPA said they would include Newton Creek in their list of Superfund sites. In 2011, they did. #HappyEarthDay nydailynews.com/new-york/queen…

26/ In 2011, the #GOP’s TRAIN act threatened to block rules to reduce cross-state air pollution and protect Americans from deadly chemicals while being sold as a jobs bill. I opposed it.

27/ I also joined the Safe Climate Caucus (@CaucusOnClimate, est. 2013); we're a group committed to speaking out on climate issues. Here are some of our plans for the 116th Congress:

augustafreepress.com/safe-climate-c…

28/ In 2014, Gov. Cuomo banned natural gas fracking in NYS. I was a strong voice in support of the ban...

29/ ...I knew we could not risk our water safety and I'm glad we didn't trade it for energy that goes against New Yorkers' belief in growing towards 100% renewable energy.

washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/…

30/ I called for citywide action on tackling climate change back in 2014.

Again - the city just passed a comprehensive climate action package. #HappyEarthDay

31/ I voted against the Keystone Pipeline in 2014.

32/ I was & remain horrified Trump pulled us out of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017. The US should not have abdicated our role as a world leader in climate change. I’m a cosponsor on Congress’ expression of commitment to restoring it.

33/ President Trump must rescind his Executive Order weakening the protections the Clean Water Act gives our environment. Americans need clean water - it’s that simple.

34/ I supported my colleagues' call for a Select Committee on the Green New Deal. We can't solve a problem until we identify the problem; that's how we offer informed solutions. #HappyEarthDay
nydailynews.com/news/politics/…

35/ I am an original co-sponsor on #HR109, the resolution for recognizing our government’s RESPONSIBILITY to create a Green New Deal. Whatever we name it, we need solutions. It’s moronic not to start taking that seriously. #GreenNewDeal

35b/ Let’s have a good plan ready to go for the American people in January 2021. #climatechange #HappyEarthDay

36/ This year, I AGAIN introduced the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.

37/ (It would "give permanent wilderness protection to 23 million acres of America's premier roadless lands" & designate roughly 1,800 miles of waterways as wild/scenic rivers.)

thehill.com/blogs/in-the-k…

38/ (Shoutout to my sister-in-arms @CaroleKing. We'll keep "rocking" it 'till we get this done!) #HappyEarthDay #NationalParksWeek

39/ Remember the Safe Climate Caucus? Again, I'm the Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee. My @CaucusOnClimate colleagues @JoyceBeatty, @DonBeyerVA and @LoisFrankel are also members. That matters.

40/ As part of our committee work, we look at the economic impact of both climate change and clean energy resources.

Spoiler alert: investing in action to combat climate change = net positive.

41/ @ReElectNydia and I are now fighting to obtain the $300-$400M we need to complete the cleanup on Newtown Creek. I'm proud to stand in the group of congressional leaders fighting for this funding.

queenseagle.com/all/2019/4/3/u…

42/ Post-2016, I am so excited and inspired by the way #climatechange has risen to the top of our priority list as a nation.

43/ Transformational climate action takes sustained effort and I applaud everyone who's fighting this fight. #HappyEarthDay

44/ Climate responsibility is an economic issue and an issue of equality. Climate justice matters. #HappyEarthDay

45/ Like this thread, fixing climate change has taken and will continue to take a sustained effort.

I won’t back down.

I know you won’t, either.

46/ Everyone - not just women - should use #HappyEarthDay to reflect on and appreciate the work they’ve done on Climate Change. Then we should take stock of our plans moving forward. #climatechange

47/ You can also help fund my next campaign by clicking here: carolynmaloney.com/donation-form/
Volunteer here: carolynmaloney.com/volunteer-with…

(Yes, that's blatant self-promotion. Women need to do more of it. #ERANow)

48/ So here's your chance: tell me about your #climatechange efforts. We need to share and celebrate our achievements together.

49/ Finally - thank you for reading, and #HappyEarthDay. Here's hoping for even happier Earth Days in the future.

@EPA *2010, not 2011