Service Year Alliance released the following statement today in response to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that fails to include the proposed Civilian Climate Corps:
Service Year Alliance is disheartened by Congress’ failure to include the proposed 300,000 member Civilian Climate Corps in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
We are encouraged by Congress’ investments in meeting our country’s ambitious climate goals by reducing emissions, investing in environmental justice, and supporting the growing clean energy sector, and we encourage Congress to quickly pass this bill to accelerate our efforts to combat climate change. But if these investments are to be successful and meet the long-term needs of the climate crisis, we must also give future generations an opportunity to take action and intentionally invest in workforce and talent pipelines to fill these new jobs in the clean energy industry.
The CCC is highly popular among youth — who are the heart of the climate movement and are eager for opportunities to get involved in climate action. It would give them an opportunity to become lifelong environmental stewards, gain the skills and hands-on experience needed for good-paying jobs, and strengthen community engagement towards a shared vision for our climate future.
The CCC is also a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand national service. It would lift the living stipend for all AmeriCorps programs, making national service an accessible opportunity for more young people and serve as a pathway into opportunity for youth of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
The CCC would help to lower greenhouse gas emissions and household energy costs, build on-ramps to conservation and energy sector jobs, address environmental justice, and help communities improve infrastructure and resilience. We continue to view the CCC as a great opportunity for local communities to design and execute projects that fit their region’s unique climate resilience and mitigation needs.
We will continue to work with members of Congress and the White House, who have committed to advancing the CCC, to creatively tap into funding streams — including the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 — to advance climate-related national service programming and pave a path forward for a future Civilian Climate Corps.
