Sunrise Movement’s response to Nancy Pelosi after 51 young people were arrested in her office
Last week, Nancy Pelosi suggested she would form a select committee similar to the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming formed in 2007, which has “no authority to take legislative action on any bill or resolution”. This morning, Nov. 13, 51 young people were arrested in Pelosi’s office after demanding that she mandate the new Select Committee on climate change develop a plan for a Green New Deal. During the sit-in, Rep. Pelosi released a statement. In response, Sunrise Movement issued the following statement:
“We welcome Nancy Pelosi’s support, but words are not enough. 42 have perished in Pelosi’s own home state of California from drought-driven fires in the last few days alone. Her solution is to resurrect a committee with no funding and no power to take legislative action. 10 years ago, Democrats tried this tepid strategy. Before a comprehensive plan was even finalized, fossil fuel executives and lobbyists swarmed to the table, diluting every proposal.
“We already have a committee warning us of catastrophic climate change. The IPCC’s most recent report says we have 12 years to transform our economy and protect human civilization as we know it.
“What we need now are leaders ready to pass legislation that matches the scale and urgency of this crisis. We fully support Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s call for a Select Committee on a Green New Deal with the power to draft legislation. All appointed members to this committee must reject campaign contributions from fossil fuel CEOs. If Pelosi fails to issue this mandate, it’s time to step aside.”
