Leaving my kids a livable world

If I’m a conservative, no one believes I care about clean air and water for future generations. If I’m a progressive, no one thinks I can engage with this government and I need to wait three-plus years. If only there was an organization that could talk with both sides of the aisle about being good stewards of the earth and leaving a healthy planet for our kids, right now.

Welcome to Citizen’s Climate Lobby. CCL just completed its annual lobby day in Washington, D.C., where 850 volunteers from 49 states met with 401 offices, including 91% of the Senate and 71% of the House. We also left information with most of the other offices.

Why do they talk to us? Because we listen, we appreciate that they are trying to help their constituents, and we look for ways we can all benefit. We are nonpartisan and work toward bipartisan climate legislation which lasts through different administrations. Consequently, about 70% of the legislation we support eventually passes.

We have conservative members and held a conservative-only lobby day with 54 Republican offices last March in D.C. We have an excellent reputation with Congress and work to build relationships because people are emotional beings and will not listen until trust is established.

In this polarized time, we need an organization that can still talk to both sides and help them talk with each other. CCL has eight active chapters in the Chicago metro area. If you’re tired of hyper-partisan politics and want to make a difference, contact us at cclusa.org. We know from experience that working with our elected officials matters.

Mark Ailes

Lombard