United Methodist Women are holding two “phone zaps” during the week of Oct. 25 to urge Congress to pass President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” legislation.
“For months, Congress has been negotiating a once-in-a-generation infrastructure and budget reconciliation package that may determine whether our country transitions to a just energy economy, addresses the climate crisis and makes our air cleaner, or condemns future generations to three times as many climate disasters than today,” said Elizabeth Chun Hye (Liz) Lee, UMW’s Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice and Climate Justice Lead.
“Creation care and climate justice are not political issues – they are fundamental to our call to be stewards of God’s creation and love our neighbor,” Ms. Lee said in a press release. She also notes the United Methodist Book of Resolutions states that the United States must “shift federal resources (both tax incentives and appropriated dollars) away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources such as solar, wind” and “support expansion of the infrastructure needed for cleaner energy vehicles, public transportation and ride-sharing.”
The first half-hour “zap” took place at 1 p.m. ET Oct. 25. The second will occur at 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 27. Ms. Lee said anyone unfamiliar with calling their congressional representatives can receive training and support from UMW. The session will take place via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpce6rqDIiEtT6GgM-e25O1VuDxlIRtnu1
Those unable to make the “zap” event are urged to contact their congressional representatives at any day this week and continue to call until the legislation is adopted.
“We need to let every member of Congress know that United Methodist Women and people of faith want Congress to pass ambitious climate legislation and funding in the infrastructure and reconciliation package,” Ms. Lee said. “We need Congress to invest in and expand renewable energy infrastructure, electric school buses, environmental justice.”