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Support Green Jobs Act and Block Grant appropriations
Appropriations sub-committees in the House and Senate are now deciding which federal programs will be funded in 2009. Last year, we worked to pass the Green Jobs Act, which authorized $125 million in funding for green-collar education programs, and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, which authorizes grants to local communities to help improve our energy efficiency and increase renewable energy. Now Congress needs to follow through with their promise and put the money into the programs. Please ask your representative to support full funding for the Green Jobs Act and the "Green Block Grants" in this year’s Appropriations Bill.
Fill in the form below and click to send to your congressperson and senators. Personalized letters are best!!
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Please fund the Green Jobs Act and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Please support full funding for the Green Jobs Act and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program in the 2009 Appropriations Bill. These are essential investments in green-collar job creation and job training and will be fundamental to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.
Both programs were part of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, which was signed into law in December of 2007.
A fully funded Green Jobs Act will distribute $125 million per year to identify needed skills, develop training programs, and train workers for jobs in a range of green industries. It targets a broad range of populations for eligibility, but has a special focus on creating "green pathways out of poverty."
A fully funded Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program will distribute $2 billion per year to cities and local governments for energy conservation, energy audits, fuel conservation programs, and the use of renewable energy. These "Green" block grants could create tens of thousands of green-collar jobs accessible to low-income city residents who most need work and careers.
Our green future is already being invented at the local level. Communities across the country are creating green-collar jobs and ensuring that the people who most need work are trained for the work that most needs to be done. The Green Jobs Act and the "Green Block Grant" Program will help bring existing initiatives to scale and start new ones in our community. Please support them.
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