Years of campaigning lands the biggest federal climate investment in U.S. history
In 2020, the GND Movement released a bold vision for transformative renewal on a scale our country has never seen. After years of campaigning, we set a new standard for what federal investment for U.S. communities could look like.
In the midst of the 2020 economic, social, and political upheaval triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, movement leaders, organized communities, and elected officials came together for a once-in-a-generation chance for Congress to pass a transformational economic recovery package that puts over 15 million people to work in family-sustaining, union jobs across the economy — from clean energy to care work to manufacturing — to cutting climate pollution in half by 2030 and advancing gender, environmental, Indigenous, economic, and racial justice.
It was called the THRIVE Act.
Introduced in 2021, this bill offered a blueprint for economic renewal backed by a movement of movements, including unions, racial justice, climate, and other grassroots groups. It was introduced in Congress by Sens. Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley, and Reps. Debbie Dingell, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, Pramila Jayapal, Earl Blumenauer, Ro Khanna, Yvette Clarke, and Nanette Barragán as lead sponsors.
THRIVE Launch In the News:
Rolling Stone: Democrats Are Releasing a Massive Green Jobs and Justice Plan. Here’s What’s In It
The THRIVE Act aims to create 15 million new “family-sustaining” jobs while lifting up communities that have borne the brunt of environmental and racial injustice
Mobilizing grassroots support for THRIVE demands across our Network:
“Recovery Recess” and #TimetoTHRIVE Day of Action
Recovery Recess called for co-sponsorship of the THRIVE Act and a progressive recovery package that includes climate, care, immigration, democracy, labor rights, and justice.
Over two weeks, #TimeToThrive saw tens of thousands of people take part in more than 250 grassroots actions in at least 41 states, territories, and tribal nations. GNDN members directly lobbied over 100 Members of Congress, and there were town hall events with Senator Markey and Representatives Yvette Clark, Holmes Norton, John Yarmuth, and more. GNDN further promoted THRIVE during recess with 46 THRIVE billboards and the release of 19 THRIVE state-level job creation reports.
National Grassroots Stories Engagement
More than 125 participants share their personal story about why their Member of Congress should support the THRIVE Act, and 70+ grassroots videos are tracked online.
Fall 2021: Enter the Build Back Better Act & the Bipartisan Framework
As momentum behind a big public spending package increased, two bills emerged: the Build Back Better Act at $3.5 trillion and the Bipartisan Framework (passed as Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) at $1.2 trillion.
New York Times: Progressives Flex Muscles on Biden Agenda, Adopting New Tactics
Fall 2022: The rush to #SealtheDeal
After IIJA was signed into law, GNDN rallied alongside elected leaders to continue the fight to pass the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Act. Heading into August, thousands mobilized in over 75 in-person actions in 36 states urging Congress to #SealTheDeal with no cuts to climate, care, jobs, and justice by passing BBBA as well as IIJA. .
Homestretch Push: Translating Support into Tactical Wins
From September through November, GNDN focused on supporting progressive Members of Congress to “hold the line” on their “no climate, no deal” demand, and pressure moderates and conservatives trying to shrink the recovery package. The coalition, with these priorities, spent $1.5 million in 20 states on tv ads, canvassing, digital ads, and in-person actions.
The coalition supported local campaigning to pressure Senators Sinema and Manchin with grassroots protest, paid ads, door-to-door canvassing, and many other creative tactics:
Advocate: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Slammed for Betraying Base, Praised by Anti-LGBTQ+
“For her to be the person to stand in the way of [progress]… that is untenable to us.”
Fight for Our Future Turns Out on Earth Day
On Earth Day 2022, the Green New Deal Network joined the Fight for Our Future coalition and allies across the country in nearly 30 states and in the hundreds in Washington D.C. to demand President Biden, Congress, and local elected officials address the climate crisis at scale, invest in essential care workers, create union-protected, dignified jobs, and prioritize investments for the communities most in need. It was time to pass the first climate package in our country’s history.
Coalition members included: Center for Popular Democracy, Future Coalition, Climate Action Campaign, Earth Day Network, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, American Federation of Teachers, The Climate Reality Project, Center for American Progress, BlueGreen Alliance, MoveOn and Climate Power, League of Conservation Voters, Center for American Progress, the Sierra Club, MoveOn, and the Green New Deal Network.
New York Times: Protesters Amass at White House, Demanding Action on Climate
In Washington, D.C., as well as Phoenix, Atlanta and scores of other cities across the country, demonstrators called on the government to enact bold climate action.
