AOC and Neguse Rally Top Appropriators to Combat Climate Crisis with American Climate Corps

Following the recent announcement of the American Climate Corps registration hub, a coalition of Democratic lawmakers, led by Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York’s 14th district and Joe Neguse of Colorado’s 2nd district, alongside 60 of their colleagues, penned a letter urging the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education to allocate funding for AmeriCorps’ Fiscal Year 2025 proposal.

The proposal includes $15 million for the AmeriCorps Salaries and Expenses Account, designated for the American Climate Corps hub, and an additional $23 million for the AmeriCorps Operations account to support the American Climate Corps program.

This move comes as a culmination of efforts initiated in September 2023 when Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Markey spearheaded a letter to President Biden, advocating for the establishment of an American Climate Corps. Their endeavors bore fruit on April 15, 2024, when Representative Ocasio-Cortez stood alongside President Joe Biden to announce the commencement of the first American Climate Corps job opportunities nationwide. The program’s overarching objective is to equip the next generation of leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to combat the climate crisis by engaging in projects aimed at constructing clean energy infrastructure and enhancing climate resilience.

In the letter addressed to the House Appropriations Subcommittee, the signatories emphasized the urgency of addressing the escalating climate crisis. They underscored the need for a comprehensive governmental response on an unprecedented scale, with the American Climate Corps positioned as a pivotal component of this multifaceted approach. The letter stated, “With deadly heat, dangerous floods, rising seas, and devastating wildfires ravaging our country, the climate crisis demands a whole-of-government response at an unprecedented scale. The American Climate Corps provides a crucial solution for developing the workforce of the future.”

Moreover, the lawmakers highlighted the potential of the American Climate Corps to serve as a unifying force in the fight against climate change. By leveraging existing authorities and coordinating efforts across AmeriCorps and other relevant federal agencies, the program aims to galvanize its members toward collective action. The letter elucidated, “By leveraging the historic climate funding secured last Congress, using existing authorities, and coordinating across AmeriCorps and other relevant federal agencies, the American Climate Corps promises to unite its members in an effort to fight climate change, build community resilience, support environmental justice, and develop career pathways to good-paying union jobs focused on climate resilience and a clean economy.”

The letter received widespread support from a diverse array of Democratic representatives, including Alma Adams, Earl Blumenauer, Jamaal Bowman, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Nydia Velázquez, and many others. The collective endorsement underscores the bipartisan recognition of the imperative to address climate change and invest in sustainable solutions.

The proposed funding allocation seeks to bolster the operational capacity of the American Climate Corps, facilitating the recruitment, training, and deployment of a diverse cohort of individuals committed to combating the climate crisis. By providing financial support to the AmeriCorps Salaries and Expenses Account and the AmeriCorps Operations Account, the initiative aims to expand the reach and impact of the program, enabling it to undertake ambitious projects nationwide.

In addition to advancing climate resilience and environmental justice, the American Climate Corps endeavors to create pathways to high-quality employment opportunities. By emphasizing the creation of well-compensated union jobs focused on climate resilience and clean energy, the program aims to foster economic prosperity while simultaneously mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

The advocacy efforts of Representative Ocasio-Cortez, Representative Neguse, and their Democratic colleagues underscore a collective commitment to confronting one of the most pressing challenges of our time. As the climate crisis continues to escalate, the imperative to invest in innovative solutions and empower future generations to lead the charge has never been more urgent.

In the wake of mounting environmental degradation and the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities, the American Climate Corps represents a beacon of hope. Through strategic investments and concerted action, lawmakers aim to pave the way for a more sustainable and equitable future.