CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE TAKES ACTION TO ADDRESS LONG-TERM CLIMATE, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19

(Washington, DC) – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced his co-sponsorship of the Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) Agenda. This comprehensive resolution outlines the bold actions and investments that are necessary to move our nation forward and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our nation is facing an unprecedented convergence of economic, public health, and racial crises that have further underscored what we already know: that we desperately need bold, sweeping reforms to ensure our institutions work for every single American," said Rep. Joe Morelle. "The COVID-19 pandemic thrust our world into uncertainty and uprooted daily life for millions of families—and its long-term impacts demand fundamental changes to transform our economy and our society for the better. Using the THRIVE Agenda as our road map, we can take much-needed action to address climate change, create millions of good-paying, union jobs at a time they are needed most, and address the longstanding inequities that have held our communities back for too long."

The THRIVE Agenda includes eight pillars that aim to:

• Create millions of good-paying, safe jobs with access to unions;
• Empower workers in the fight against inequality;
• Combat environmental injustice and ensure healthy lives for all;
• Avert climate and environmental catastrophe;
• Invest in Black and Brown communities to counteract structural racial and gender injustices;
• Strengthen and heal the government-to-government relationship with sovereign Native Nations;
• Ensure fairness for workers and communities affected by economic transitions;
• Reinvest in public institutions that enable workers and communities to thrive.

These pillars represent the values and principles necessary to rebuild our economy and society into one that truly works for every American, regardless of race, gender, or economic status. In particular, the resolution calls for ambitious environmental protections including: implementing policies to curb air, water, and land pollution from fossil fuels; committing to the Paris Agreement's target of keeping global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius; and utilizing solely carbon-free energy by 2035.

"When we make the right investments in our country and provide the necessary tools to our citizens, we can prevent future crises like we are facing today," added Rep. Morelle. "But we're up against the clock – we need action now, or our children and grandchildren will be forced to pay for our mistakes."

The THRIVE Resolution has over 80 co-sponsors between both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Additionally, it has the support of numerous climate-focused and racial justice agencies and unions including: The Sierra Club; The Sunrise Movement; Movement for Black Lives; Service Employees International Union.

Full text of the resolution can be found here.

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