I Found HOPE in Washington DC
The last month or so has been a bit of a blur what with my ongoing Ph.D. research, spending over three weeks in Bonn, Germany, as part of the United Nations’ 62nd Subsidiary Body meetings while I worked for the Federated State of Micronesia, and no sooner than I returned to the United States, I was off to Washington DC for two incredibly productive and memorable days just prior to our country’s 249th birthday.
My time in Washington was an unforgettable reminder that young Americans’ voices not only deserve a seat at the table but that we’ve earned it. On July 2nd, for example, I joined the incredible team at Our Children’s Trust (OCT), led by the fierce and ever-brilliant Liz Lee (OCT’s Government Affairs Staff Attorney), for a day of climate advocacy on Capitol Hill. We met with several members of the U.S. House of Representatives and their staff to discuss Lighthiser v. Trump, the federal constitutional climate lawsuit I recently joined as a youth plaintiff, to build support for a new congressional Resolution rooted in climate justice and youth rights (you can learn more about this case in my recent post here).
I am pleased to share that this Resolution will be introduced on Capitol Hill tomorrow (Wednesday, July 16th) in the Senate Swamp at 12:00 p.m. EST, and I hope that if you’re in the DC area, you will join my friends and fellow plaintiffs for the Press Conference! RSVP by visiting bit.ly/resevent2025.
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I began what was a busy day with an early flight into DC, and as soon as I arrived and navigated the Capitol’s security, we had a lovely meeting with Representative Schakowsky of Illinois, a longtime environmental champion, and the lead sponsor of our Resolution. From there, the morning was a sprint as we met with Representative Scanlon of Pennsylvania, Representative McClain Delaney of Maryland, and the Legislative Assistant to Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida, who, I’m pleased to say, officially signed onto the Resolution that same day. The tunnels and their hallways under the Capitol were like a beehive of motion, and by day’s end, we’d met with over a dozen Representatives and their staff.
Each of our conversations focused on the legal and constitutional arguments behind Lighthiser v. Trump, which challenges three Trump Administration executive orders that promote fossil fuel extraction, erase climate science from federal websites, and deepen the climate crisis. We’re asking the courts to declare these orders unlawful and block their implementation. But we also need congressional champions to speak out, especially as our rights to life, liberty, and a livable future are on the line.
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In addition to these meetings, our team visited other House offices to personally deliver invitations to the July 16th press conference, where we’ll officially unveil the Resolution. It was empowering to walk the halls of Congress with other young Americans who share my concerns and are demanding bold climate leadership while expecting their voices to be heard.
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While in DC, I also had the distinct honor of being interviewed as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on July 3rd to discuss the past decade of my work in climate education, science, and policy, the Lighthiser case, and the critical role that the First Amendment plays in climate activism. To sit on that stage amidst the Mall, steps from the Washington Monument, and participate in an event sponsored by such an iconic institution as the Smithsonian a day before our nation’s birthday made me very proud to be an American.
As I shared onstage, my work since founding The Sink or Swim Project, to suing the State of Florida on multiple occasions, to now challenging our country’s President and his federal executive orders has always relied on my right to speak out, to speak up, to protest, and to advocate. Let there be no doubt that the First Amendment is the foundation of youth climate justice. And that right to speak up and out is, without question, the very essence of what it means to be an American. Without it, our voices would be silenced. With it, we are so very mighty and powerful.
Let none of us forget that, and let all of us cherish and embrace the First Amendment forever. Thanks to the Freedom Forum for sponsoring my participation and John Maynard for the invitation. A special shout-out is in order for Natalia Fleischmann, who conducted my interview with incredible grace and dignity far beyond her 18 years and yet again proved just how powerful and impactful young people in our nation can be.
As a young American, I must say that my time in Washington, DC this month was an inspiring yet humbling experience. Amidst all the daily noise, dysfunction, and disappointment that have been constantly emanating from the White House since January of this year, my time in Washington offered me a pleasant surprise.
It offered me HOPE.
It was deeply motivating to share that stage with another energetic, engaged climate champion and have so many others in attendance, to walk the Capitol and meet with passionate elected lawmakers who share our concerns, and to see our generation’s climate fight gaining momentum. There is hope out there. Things will, I promise, get better because there are a great many fellow citizens like you and me who share our concerns and are dedicated to doing the right thing.
If you’re reading this and wondering if your voice matters, let me be clear: it does. I hope you’ll join us on July 16th as we continue the fight for climate justice and our Constitutional rights together.
