We live in a time of unprecedented threat to our environment. From pollution to habitat degradation to the global crisis of man-made climate change, the evidence all around us is clear that we must act to protect our planet and everything living on it.

I have been a proud member of the Sierra Club since I was 16 years old and my passion for the environment is one of the primary reasons I first got into public service. Today, I serve as Vice-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, a group of more than 70 members of the House of Representatives committed combating climate change and ensuring a robust, resilient, low-carbon economy for generations to come.

I believe that climate change represents an existential threat to the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans and billions around the world and that Congress must act with the urgency and ambition that climate science demands. For these reasons, I was an original cosponsor of the Green New Deal, a bold and aspirational proposal to transition our economy away from reliance on fossil fuels.

I have consistently supported legislation that aims to protect our planet, a fact that is reflected by my 98% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters. In particular, I have been proud to champion measures that prevent mining and fossil fuel exploration and drilling on our nation’s public lands and to author the Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act, which will help increase the botanical capacity of the federal government and ensure that America’s unique and incredible ecosystems remain intact. I have also organized visits to more than five National Parks with my Congressional colleagues to witness firsthand the impacts of climate change on America’s most pristine landscapes and meet with the incredible National Park Service staff on the front lines of this challenge. We must do everything in our power to address the climate crisis so that generations to come can enjoy the majesty of America’s public lands just as we have.

I understand that we cannot solve the climate crisis without realizing how interconnected its impacts truly are. Today, the results of climate change can already be seen across the world’s plant and animal populations. During my time in Congress, I’ve also been proud to support wildlife through my support for the Endangered Species Act, which for over forty years has helped prevent the extinction of our nation’s unique wildlife.

I also understand that we can’t do it alone. Marching alongside climate activists, I have been inspired by the millions of young people around our country fighting for a better future. I will continue working with my colleagues to address the realities of climate change and dedicating my time in Congress to supporting legislation that protects our communities and develops strategies to combat the many threats facing our environment.