CCLers Make Spring Drop-Off Season a Success
By Elissa Tennant
Every spring, Congress takes an annual recess between late March and early April. Most senators and representatives return home, spending time in their districts alongside constituents. Because this is a prime time for face-to-face interactions, CCLers make an extra effort to drop off information and constituent letters.
This year, CCLers came through. From letter drop-offs to poems and podcasts, these chapters proved proved that our advocacy work goes far beyond D.C. lobby meetings — it comes to life in meaningful interactions like these.
Poems and peace lilies in Greater Detroit
The Greater Detroit chapter visited local Congressional offices to drop off peace lilies and a poem about permitting reform.
The chapter wanted their leave-behind gift to be environmentally friendly, and specifically tried to think of ideas that would not be discarded or take a long time to break down. “During chapter meetings, we brainstormed a few things but we all liked the idea of dropping off a plant,” said group leader Julie Budde.
The choice of a peace lily was a direct nod to the chapter members “coming in peace” with only good intentions. As an added bonus, peace lilies actually purify the air around them by trapping toxins, making them a clean air plant perfect to represent a group of CCLers.
Chapter volunteer Hailey Hicks noted that a plant would also likely remain in the office as decor, acting as a visual reminder of the group’s ask for permitting reform support.
Hailey wrote the accompanying poem herself. “I started with one line that I felt emphasized a main idea/goal of CCL and then tried to figure out how to craft another line that would rhyme,” she said. “I altered the word choice as I went, swapping out a synonym where needed to make the poem flow.”
Julie was so impressed by the end product, she worried the office would suspect they had used AI. To combat this, the poem was specifically signed by “the humans of the Greater Detroit CCL chapter.”
“I wanted to be clear that we put time and energy and personalization into this, rather than handing it off for a machine to do,” said Julie.
The drop-offs were a great success. In at least one office, a staffer took extra time to speak with a Greater Detroit chapter member. “It was wonderful to have such a positive reception,” said Hailey.
A Permitting Reform Poem
We want to thank you for your representation.
Your efforts in Congress deserve celebration.
We know it’s not easy to juggle it all,
yet you’re one of the few who answered the call.
We hope you’ll consider one more request;
of the utmost importance, we can attest.
In the upcoming session, if you’re able to find
a moment or two to begin to streamline
energy production in the United States
it will undoubtedly lead to lower consumer rates.
Not only that, but we believe that it’s vital
to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Relying on resources here in the U.S.,
already available, is arguably best.
Permitting reform is the major solution,
not only to deal with carbon pollution;
it gets projects online, no matter what kind,
to ensure homes and businesses are powered on time.
We ask you, as well, to take a moment to dwell
on the benefits of having more forms of energy to sell
and all of the positives that often come
with creating new jobs, especially where you’re from;
yet another good outcome of permitting reform.
With so many upsides, why would anyone be torn?
The help you provide in pursuing this mission
will guarantee the success of America’s ambition
to lead, both in energy production
and in preventing environmental destruction.
A smooth permitting process is a win-win for all.
With your backing and support, we know it can be solved.
Please take our request into your consideration.
We urge you, as constituents, to overcome your hesitation.
Your promotion of this cause would mean a heck of a lot.
Together, we at CCL know we can’t be stopped.
Written by the humans of the Greater Detroit Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Constituent letters all over Las Vegas
CCL Las Vegas dropped off stacks of constituent letters at all five offices in the Las Vegas area, including two senators and three representatives. They were also able to hold two in-person meetings with district staff in Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01) and Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
“We took time to appreciate the representative’s work and learn more about their climate and energy goals,” said group leader Joanne Leovy. “We also included members of the local Audubon chapter in one visit and Nevada Clinicians for Climate Action in the other to talk about common areas of work.”
In total, chapter members delivered 75 letters to each Senator and 20-30 to each House Representative. They still have more to bring along to their lobby meetings in Washington, D.C. this July at CCL’s Summer Conference!
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San Mateo puts BRIDGE in action
While many chapters took a traditional drop-off approach, the CCL San Mateo chapter decided to switch things up. Student chapter members recorded a podcast interview with Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15) in his San Mateo office.
Rep. Mullin has a history of engaging with youth and making young constituents a top priority. When Lucas Clavel and Riya Arwal asked to interview the Congressman for their podcast, chapter members agreed it was a great idea.
The San Mateo chapter is also fortunate enough to have a representative who is already a member of the Progressive Caucus and the House Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and a supporter of permitting reform and the Fix Our Forests Act. Instead of asking for support on policies Rep. Mullin was already backing, the chapter strategically used his time in-district to meet with students and support their creative endeavors.
“This was BRIDGE in action,” said chapter volunteer Cynthia Sandoval. “Lobbying wasn’t our priority. This was building our relationship with dialogue, growth, and engagement.”
CCL has more than 350 chapters across the country. Join in next year’s spring recess drop-offs by finding your local chapter today and getting plugged in.
