Environmentalists gathered at the state Capitol on Friday morning, urging Congress to pass President Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan as part of his budget proposal . It would allocate $3.5 trillion in spending for climate change initiatives, health care and public schools.
Dora Vasquez is executive director for AZ Alliance for Retired Americans and says not only is the state a destination for retirees, and “Because of climate change, our grandchildren face record-breaking temperatures, dirty air, mega drought and raging wildfires — each of which continue to ravage our nation and our beautiful state.”
Katherine Cohen, organizing director for Arizona Youth Climate Coalition, also attended the press conference and said, “As a 17-year-old, I have already witnessed the impacts of climate change. Wildfire smoke is blowing into the Valley and choking us, and the West is in a severe water crisis. Action needs to be taken to preserve surface and groundwater supply for sustainable and long term use.”
The U.S. Senate narrowly adopted the budget resolution 50-49 in August. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has asked Democratic committee leaders to wrangle out the details for a final vote on the package, which ties in a previously passed bipartisan infrastructure bill.
