Renewable Revolution

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders <Senator@sanders.senate.gov>
Jun 24, 2021, 2:01 PM to me

Dear  Mr. Gelbert:

Thank you for contacting me to voice your support for ocean conservation. Like you, I support protecting and restoring the health of our oceans, fisheries, and coastal economies.

As you know, our oceans play a key role in human and environmental health. In fact, the ocean produces more than half of the world’s oxygen, and is crucial to planetary climate regulation. It also stores 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere, and is home to an estimated one million species of animals. In light of the increasing number of threats facing our oceans – including warming temperatures, ocean acidification, and marine pollution – I believe we must take immediate action to preserve our precious marine ecosystems for future generations.

That is why I cosponsored the Thirty by Thirty Resolution to Save Nature last Congress, which establishes the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our nation’s ocean and land by 2030. I also cosponsored the COAST Anti-Drilling Act, the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act, and the West Coast Ocean Protection Act to prohibit drilling on the outer Continental Shelf and the Arctic. Lastly, I cosponsored the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, which helps to address the precipitous decline in shark populations around the world by prohibiting the sale, transport, or purchase of shark fins and shark fin products.

As a member of the Senate environment and natural resources committees, and as a longtime supporter of marine conservation programs, please know that I will keep your thoughts in mind should the Senate consider legislation on ocean conservation.

Sincerely,

BERNARD SANDERS
United States Senator

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders <Senator@sanders.senate.gov>
Jun 24, 2021, 2:10 PM to me

Dear  Mr. Gelbert:

Thank you for contacting me to voice your concerns with the Growing Climate Solutions Act. I have heard from a number of Vermonters like you who are concerned with the impacts of this bill on small farmers and our environment, which is why I voted against this legislation.

As you know, agriculture and land use practices can be hugely effective in sequestering carbon, making farming, ranching and forestry an important part of the fight against climate change. The Growing Climate Solutions Act would expand the involvement of farmers and foresters in the carbon market by establishing the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Certification Program, which would allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide resources to private landowners on participating in the carbon market. However, as you mentioned in your letter, there are concerns that this bill would exacerbate pollution in low-income communities and communities of color, and would strengthen corporate agriculture while hurting small farms.

Please know I will keep your concerns in mind as I continue to support legislation that addresses the existential threat of climate change. 

Sincerely,

BERNARD SANDERS
United States Senator

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders <Senator@sanders.senate.gov>
Jun 24, 2021, 2:12 PM to me

Dear  Mr. Gelbert:

Thank you for contacting me to voice your support for the Block All New (BAN) Oil Exports Act. You will be pleased to know that I am an original cosponsor of this important piece of legislation.

As you may know, the United States is expected to be the largest oil and liquefied natural gas exporter in the next few years. In fact, national crude oil and products exports has increased 770 percent since 2006. As the wealthiest country on the planet and the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States needs to lead the fight against global climate change, and that means swiftly transitioning away from dirty fossil fuels and toward clean, renewable sources of energy. 

That is why I joined Senators Markey, Merkley, and Wyden in reintroducing the BAN Oil Exports Act, which would reinstate the ban on exporting American crude oil and natural gas abroad. This bill would also impose restrictions on the export of other harmful products, including coal, petroleum products and petrochemical feedstocks. The BAN Oil Exports Act is currently before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, of which I am not a member. Please know I will keep your thoughts in mind as I continue to support this bill and other efforts to address climate change.

Thank you again for contacting me, and please feel free to stay in touch about this or any other subject of interest to you. For up-to-date information on what I am working on, please sign-up for my e-newsletter, the Bernie Buzz, at https://www.sanders.senate.gov/contact/newsletter-signup. 


Sincerely,

BERNARD SANDERS
United States Senator