Climate Connection: FEDERAL CLIMATE ACTION
By Libby Stortz
According to Yale’s Program on Climate Change Communication, 7 in 10 of ALL Americans want climate action at the federal level, and the good news is that our representatives are responding.
Firstly, more and more members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, support carbon fee and dividend legislation. HR 763, THE ENERGY INNOVATION AND CARBON DIVIDEND ACT is the one you might already have supported through a constituent letter or endorsement via Sitka’s chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. It puts a fee on carbon production and all but a small admin cost is returned as a dividend paid via the U.S. treasury department through direct deposit, debit card methods, or checks when necessary. Currently, this bill has 5 co-sponsors from the prominent Ways and Means Committee and endorsements from 99.9% of scientists, Nobel Prize winners, the last 8 Federal Reserve chairs, 3,500 U.S. economists and the Conservative Leadership Council.
Most recently, Republican Senator Mike Braun and Democratic Senator Chris Coons have launched a Climate Solutions Caucus in the Senate, similar to the one that sponsored HR 763 in the House. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has also joined. While this one isn’t a bill, it’s an action that’s been much needed. It gives a great boost to introduction and passage of a carbon fee and dividend bill.
Here are some other bills that have been introduced to address specific climate change issues. Almost all have bipartisan support. They all complement HR 763, which is great because it will take more than one tool to reduce the extreme effects of climate change.
HR 1984 DISASTER ACT – enables Congress to collect data on disaster response, recovery, mitigation efforts, and their associated administrative costs to provide needed assistance. If passed it will take effect in 2022.
RECLAIM ACT – would make the transition to clean energy sources much easier for coal country residents to withstand challenges of job loss and change.
HR 6463 MARKET CHOICE ACT – imposes a tax on greenhouse gas emissions, some industrial processes and product uses. It also eliminates the federal gas tax, imposes a moratorium on enforcing certain Clean Air Act regulations on greenhouse gas emissions until 2033. If specific emission targets aren’t reached, it will establish a National Climate Commission to review policies reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
RESTORING RESILIENT REEFS ACT OF 2019-HR 4160 and S 2429. This bill is in both houses of Congress. It reauthorizes and modernizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. and encourages innovative stewardship partnerships among stakeholders, research and management agencies, and updates the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force.
FAST ACT – also called the America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act, is a bipartisan Senate bill reauthorizing funding to maintain and repair the country’s roads and bridges. It’s the first-ever addressing carbon emissions and supporting electric vehicle infrastructure.
BEST ACT-BETTER ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES ACT-HR 2986 and S.1602 are bipartisan bills to amend older legislation to establish R&D and demonstrations for grid-scale energy storage systems.
These climate bills are the most positive action that the Congress has taken and a sign that when we request action and bipartisanship in getting to solutions, they will respond. Now we want votes and passage to meet the CO2 targets needed.
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Libby Stortz is a member of Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Vessels Line Up
For Boat Parade
All are invited to light up their boats and join the Boat Parade on Dec. 15 and 22. Line up is at 5 p.m. both days at the Longliner Lodge.
Lee Hansen will lead the parde on his tug.
For more information call Beverly at 623-7038.
Sacred Harp Sing
Lessons Offered
All are invited to learn to sing four-part a capella harmony in an American tradition 3:30-5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Pioneers Home Chapel.
Beginners and listeners are welcome. Singing is from the blue Cooper book and the Christmas songbook. Loaner books are available. For more information call Sara at 747-2915.
School Libraries
To Receive Book
On Peratrovich
The League of Women Voters of Juneau, in partnership with the Alaska State Library and the League of Women Voters of Alaska, has mailed to each middle school library and public library in Alaska the book ‘‘Fighter in Velvet Gloves: Alaska Civil Rights Hero Elizabeth Peratrovich.’’
The book details the life and work of this Tlingit civil rights icon.
Since 2007, the League has worked to bring the story of Elizabeth Peratrovich to all school children in the state, first with an effort to circulate a movie made by Jeff Silverman about Peratrovich, and now with distribution of the book.
Author Annie Boochever, who grew up in Juneau, completed her book ‘‘Fighter in Velvet Gloves’’ earlier this year. Boochever worked with Roy Peratrovich Jr. to document the roles played by Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich in the 1940s civil rights movement for anti-discrimination in Alaska. Elizabeth’s impassioned speech before the Alaska State Legislature convinced state lawmakers to pass an Anti- Discrimination Act in 1945, two decades before the U.S. Congress passed landmark civil rights legislation for the nation.
Learning of Boochever’s book, the League was determined that it needed to be in all middle school libraries and public libraries statewide.
Grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as administered by the Alaska State Library, paid for the bulk of the books, with the League of Women Voters Alaska paying for additional copies. The Alaska State Library provided space for packing the books and covered postage costs. The Juneau League packed and shipped more than 450 books to libraries and schools in early December. The books will be in the schools and libraries by the time school starts again after the holidays.
In addition, during the 2020 session, Juneau League members will hand deliver a copy of the book to each legislator.
The League of Women Voters promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues. For information visit www.lwvak.org
Winter Music
Concert at SHS
Sitka High School music students will perform in a winter music program sharing holiday favorites and highlights from the first semester at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Performing Arts Center.
The concert is free and open to the public. For more information call Mike Kernin at 738-9160 or email him at kerninm@sitkaschools.org.
Community Land
Trust to Meet
The Sitka Community Land Trust will meet 6:15-7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Sitka Public Library.
The public is invited to attend. The SCLT is a non-profit organization that relies on community support and participation. For information contact Mim McConnell at 738-2888.
Moose Lodge
Events On Tap
Holiday happenings at the Sitka Moose Lodge have been announced.
The Women of the Moose Ways and Means chapter night is 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12. The activity will be making headbands for the New Year’s Eve Roaring ’20s party.
On Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. WOTM will hold a coworker party. Attendees should take a dish to share and a gift to exchange worth $10 or less. The activity will be filling the Christmas goody bags for the children’s Christmas party.
The annual holiday family dinner and children’s Christmas party is slated 1-3 p.m. Dec. 21. Salads and desserts are welcomed. Members are reminded to sign up their children, 12 and under, by 2 p.m. Dec. 18.
On Dec. 31 is the Roaring ’20s New Year’s Eve party for members and qualified guests.
HOPE Coalition
Meeting Dec. 12
A HOPE Coalition meeting dedicated to looking at the impact opioids are having on the community and a time for community members to share their “stories,” concerns and hopes is slated 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Sitka Counseling conference room, 113 Metlakatla Street.
The HOPE Coalition meets the third Thursday of each month. All are welcome to attend and become active in addressing substance misuse in the community and help create a “culture of health.”
For information, contact Loyd Platson at Sitka Counseling. Call 747-3636 or email lplatson@scpsak.org.
Baby Raven
Reads Dec. 14
Sealaska Heritage will host Baby Raven Reads: Sitka 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 14 at Sitka Head Start. The theme is ‘‘Box of Daylight.’’
Alaska Native families with children up to age 5 are invited for storytelling, songs and other cultural and literacy activities. Families can enroll at the event.
For information call Tess Olympia at 586-9201 or babyravenreads@sealaska.com.
Sitka Legacy Foundation Raises Funds for Salvation Army and Long-Term Endowments
Sitka Legacy Foundation, an affiliate of the Alaska Community Foundation, raised $2,260 from businesses and individuals for the Salvation Army at a “giving after hours” event held this week in partnership with the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce and Galanin + Klein.
The Legacy Foundation will add to these funds with a discretionary grant of $377.
“Wow,” said Salvation Army Sitka Corps Capt. Matt Morrow when he heard about the gift and call for donations. “This community is full of generous people. We use the money that we raise during this season to meet needs for food and assistance with rent and utilities all year long. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Caring for your neighbors is the heart of the Christmas spirit.”
This is the second year that the Legacy Foundation has sponsored an event with local businesses on Giving Tuesday, which is a national day of giving held on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
“We want to highlight the role that local businesses play in supporting the community,” said SLF Advisory Board Chair Mike Venneberg. “When you buy goods and services locally, your dollars stay right here in Sitka. Local business owners live here, and care about making our town better for everyone.”
At the event, Galanin + Klein owners Brit Galanin and Rachel Klein announced that their business would be donating a portion of profits from the month of November to Sitkans Against Family Violence to help make the newly-renovated shelter more comfortable for residents.
Sitka Legacy Foundation also announced progress on its four-year fundraising challenge, which began in 2017. During the campaign, the Alaska Community Foundation and Rasmuson Foundation will match all contributions to the SLF grantmaking endowment up to $125,000, and up to $60,000 for an operating endowment that supports SLF’s sustainability. SLF has now raised more than $130,000 for its grantmaking endowment, and has just over $3,000 left to meet its operating endowment challenge a full year ahead of schedule.
Achieving these milestones could not be possible without the generous support of the Sitka community, SLF said in a press release. SLF’s permanent assets now total more than $510,000.
SLF Program Manager Robin Sherman expressed gratitude to the generous Sitkans who have contributed to the endowments to date, and added, “We are excited about meeting our challenge ahead of schedule, but we’re not slowing down in our efforts to build long-term resources for our community.”
Supporters may make donations on the secure SLF website, https://sitkalegacy.org/donate/ or by sending a check made out to “ACF-SLF” to Sitka Legacy Foundation, P.O. Box 2354, Sitka, AK 99835.
