Across the nation, we are experiencing the impact of coal’s decline and while we work towards transitioning to a cleaner, healthier future for our communities we will also have to grapple with how to repair the immense damage left behind. […]
Over 100 organizations, including the Alliance for Appalachia and several of our members, have added our names to a sign-on letter urging House Leadership to prioritize several bills that would aid coal-impacted communities across America. These bills have stalled in Congress, despite bipartisan support and an urgent need for
Last week, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a press conference to announce the introduction of the Environmental Justice for All Act. The Environmental Justice for All Act creates a Federal Energy Transition Economic Development Assistance Fund – paid for through new fees on oil, gas and coal companies – to support communities and workers as they transition away from greenhouse gas-dependent economies...
RECLAIM Act advocates from across the country kicked off summer with a grassroots lobby trip to Washington, DC. This is another in a series of actions and events over the past several seasons to urge Congress to pass the RECLAIM Act. The trip was successful in building leadership and relationships with communities impacted by the coal industry. It was an important opportunity to show support for the bill. Members of the Alliance for Appalachia were among those that attended on behalf of their communities and member organizations including from Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KY), Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (TN), AppalachianVoices, and Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards (VA).
The Alliance for Appalachia was one of many coalitions taking part in the House Committee of Natural Resources' Environmental Justice Working Group. Several members took part in the Environmental Justice Convening on June 26, 2019. This all-day event convened policymakers, environmental leaders and practitioners to educate Congressional staff on the history and context of the environmental justice (EJ) movement, discuss current challenges and policy priorities for EJ practitioners and frontline community-based organizations, and connect policymakers and EJ advocates across the country.
While the world is moving away from plastics, some elected leaders in our region are embracing the industry as a false solution to a changing energy landscape. Capitalism allows corporations to put profits over people. We believe there’s a better way. Alliance members across the region are opposing extreme energy extraction in all forms.
This week, U.S. Reps. Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Hal Rogers (R-KY), Glenn Thompson (PA-15), and Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced the RECLAIM Act– HR 2156. This is big news following a successful committee hearing on innovative mine reclamation in March, and it’s […]
Last month, a powerhouse group of organizations– including Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Sierra Club, Oil Change International, and Honor the Earth— published the Banking on Climate Change 2019 Fossil Fuel Report Card. The Alliance for Appalachia was […]
Written by Taysha DeVaughan on April 2, 2019, Reposted from https://www.samsva.org/engagement On March 27th-31st S.A.M.S President Taysha DeVaughan attended the Climate Justice Alliance member convening in Albuquerque, NM. As a member group of the Alliance for Appalachia, SAMS leadership development […]