Decorah and Cresco residents discuss climate change bills with Grassley, Ernst and Finkenauer

Four volunteers from the NE Iowa chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby—Marti Runyon and Leslie Sand of Decorah and Lou Ann Hall and Amy Bouska of Cresco—have met electronically with U.S. Senators Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst and Congresswoman Abby Finkenhauer to discuss climate issues.

In years past, Citizens' Climate Lobby members have gotten an opportunity for lobbying their representatives in person on Capitol Hill. This year due to COVID-19, the lobbying efforts all went virtual.  "It is encouraging to speak with members of Congress about climate issues," said Hall.
 
The four lobbied for passage of the "Growing Climate Solutions Act," co-sponsored by Republican Senators Mike Braun of Indiana and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Democratic Senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.  "This is another bi-partisan bill that would offer a new revenue stream for farmers, ranchers and landowners suffering from the economic impacts of global trade tensions and the coronavirus," said Sand. "The bill directs the USDA to establish a program that helps the agriculture sector gain access to revenue from greenhouse gas offset credit markets."

For more information about the Citizens' Climate Lobby, e-mail Leslie Sand at lessand52@gmail.com.