Michigan LCV staff is headed to Washington D.C.

It’s always difficult to know what to pack for these trips to Washington, DC. The clothes are easy enough: prepare for the heat. The harder part is what arguments to bring to the federal officials we will meet. There are so many important issues and only so much room to fit them in.

Fortunately, we have four members of our Michigan LCV staff storming the Capitol next week and we’ll each be bringing a powerful message on climate change, defending the Clean Air Act, protecting the EPA from Congressional assaults, and promoting green job growth in Michigan. As the contingent from Michigan, it is our responsibility to carry our unique perspective on these major concerns to our President, Senators, and Congressional delegation.

Personally, I’m looking forward to sitting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House with key Administration personnel and laying out why it is so important for the President to stand tall on environmental protections. Similarly, as Ryan, Phil, and Zane are making the rounds through the halls of the Capitol at the same time, they will speak to the momentum of clean energy jobs in Michigan, especially in regard to high speed rail, wind, and solar manufacturing.

In some cases, like Senator Stabenow and Congressman Peters, we will thank them for their leadership on electric vehicle research and promotion. In others, like our meeting with Congressman Camp, we will remind him that his position of power, holding the gavel of the Budget Committee, can be used for even more than his battle against the Asian Carp in protecting Michigan’s Great Lakes. 

Regardless, we’ll all be dressed coolly, while also turning up the heat on our legislators in Washington. On this important trip, we can afford to do no less.