Social Justice - Chispa | League of Conservation Voters

LCV and Chispa Statements on Legislation to Subvert Voting Rights

For Immediate Release April 1, 2025 Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230 Chispa/En Español: Elena Gaona, egaona@lcv.org 202-907-9717 Washington, D.C. — In response to the House consideration of the SAVE Act, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa issued the following statements: “This anti-voter bill would keep millions of eligible citizens from voting across the country and imperil our fundamental right to choose our leaders,” said Senior Director of Judiciary & Democracy Doug Lindner. “The SAVE Act would intentionally make voting harder for huge numbers of eligible Americans — including tens of millions who changed their names when getting married, over a hundred million who don’t have passports, rural and elderly communities, military voters and people with disabilities, communities of color, and everyone who relies on registering to vote online, by mail, or anywhere other than an election office. Following Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional attempts to roll back the right to vote for millions of Americans across the country, Congress must reject this attack on our rights and protect our freedom to choose our own politicians.” *** “The SAVE Act would be disastrous for everyone’s voting rights in the U.S. It uses anti-immigrant disinformation to make it harder for every citizen to register to vote,” said Art Terrazas, Chispa LCV Legislative and Policy Manager. “And this disturbing bill follows the overreaching, unconstitutional attempt by the President through his executive order to set a brand new set of rules for our elections. The President and Congress should take actions that will strengthen our elections and ensure that all eligible voters have access to the ballot box instead of scapegoating immigrant communities and proceeding with dangerous anti-voter actions. Our democracy is stronger when every eligible voter, regardless of color, party, income, or zip code, has equal access to the decisions that shape our future.” ###

LCV and Chispa Statements on Legislation to Subvert Voting Rights Read More »

LCV y Chispa aplauden la reintroducción de la Ley para Promover el Derecho al Voto John R. Lewis

Para publicación inmediata 5 de marzo de 2025 Contacto: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org , 940-783-2230 Chispa/En Español: Elena Gaona, egaona@lcv.org 202-907-9717 Washington, D.C.— En respuesta a la reintroducción de la Ley para Promover el Derecho al Voto John R. Lewis en la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos, la Liga de Votantes por la Conservación (LCV) y Chispa emitieron las siguientes declaraciones: “Sesenta años después de que el representante John Lewis fuera atacado en un puente en Selma, Alabama, por exigir el derecho al voto, nuestros derechos fundamentales, incluyendo nuestro derecho a votar en elecciones libres y justas, están bajo ataque cada vez más”, dijo el director del Programa de Democracia de LCV, Justin Kwasa. “Mientras la administración Trump, los republicanos extremistas en el Congreso y los jueces de extrema derecha en la Corte Suprema intentan reducir los derechos al voto y priorizar los intereses de los grandes contaminadores y los directores ejecutivos de corporaciones ultrarricos por sobre la gente de este país, es fundamental que protejamos la libertad de votar de todos los votantes, sin importar su raza, ingresos o código postal. Instamos al Congreso a aprobar la Ley para Promover el Derecho al Voto John R. Lewis y otras leyes críticas sobre el derecho al voto, incluida la Ley de Libertad para Votar y la Estadidad de D.C.” *** “La Ley para Promover el Derecho al Voto John R. Lewis es más necesaria que nunca ahora que nuestra nación y nuestras comunidades enfrentan un ataque directo a la democracia, nuestros derechos civiles y nuestro derecho al voto”, dijo la directora sénior de Chispa, Estefany Carrasco-González. “Nuestra democracia es más fuerte cuando todos los ciudadanos pueden participar de manera libre y justa, no solo unos pocos. En cambio, tenemos intentos constantes, desde la supresión del voto hasta la desinformación, para justificar el intento una y otra vez de quitarles el derecho al voto a los votantes elegibles. La reintroducción de este proyecto de ley es fundamental para proteger nuestro derecho fundamental a elegir a los líderes que nos representen”. ###

LCV y Chispa aplauden la reintroducción de la Ley para Promover el Derecho al Voto John R. Lewis Read More »

LCV and Chispa Applaud the Reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

For Immediate Release March 5, 2025 Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230 Chispa/En Español: Elena Gaona, egaona@lcv.org 202-907-9717 Washington, D.C.— In response to the reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa issued the following statements: “Sixty years after Representative John Lewis was attacked on a bridge in Selma, Alabama, for demanding the right to vote, our fundamental rights, including our right to vote in free and fair elections, are under escalating attacks,” said LCV Democracy Program Director Justin Kwasa. “As the Trump administration, extremist Republicans in Congress, and far-right Justices on the Supreme Court attempt to roll back voting rights and prioritize the interests of Big Polluters and ultra-wealthy corporate CEOs over people in this country, it is critical that we protect every voter’s freedom to vote — no matter their race, income, or zip code. We urge Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and other critical voting rights legislation, including the Freedom to Vote Act and D.C. Statehood.” *** “The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is needed now more than ever as our nation and communities face a ruthless assault on democracy, our civil rights, and our right to vote,” said Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González. “Our democracy is stronger when all citizens can participate freely and fairly, not just a few. Instead, we have constant attempts – from voter suppression to disinformation – to justify trying over and over to take away the right to vote from eligible voters. The reintroduction of this bill is critical to protect our fundamental right to choose leaders to represent us.” ###

LCV and Chispa Applaud the Reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act Read More »

To advance environmental justice, we must integrate immigrant justice

As we navigate the complexities of our immigration system, we must include immigration matters within our work toward environmental justice.

To advance environmental justice, we must integrate immigrant justice Read More »

Trump’s Inhumane Executive Orders Targeting Immigrants Threaten All Communities and Civil Rights

For Immediate Release January 20, 2025 Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230 En Español: Elena Gaona, egaona@lcv.org, 202-907-9717 LCV and Chispa Statements on Trump Administration Actions Targeting Immigrant Communitiesc Washington, D.C. — In response to the new Trump administration’s flurry of executive orders and actions targeting immigrants, their families, and communities, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa released the following statements: “Trump’s inhumane executive orders targeting immigrants for political gain will harm the privacy and fundamental civil liberties of communities across the country, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status,” said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “These abhorrent executive orders — going as far as the unconstitutional revocation of birthright citizenship – are not about national security or protecting communities; they demonstrate the disturbing cruelty Trump and his allies have promised to enact against immigrant communities and communities of color — which will have far-reaching and unintended consequences for all citizens and their civil rights. Immigrants have been vital to the economy of this country since its inception, and globally they are too often disproportionately on the frontlines of the fossil-fueled climate crisis and pollution that have made their communities unlivable. LCV will continue to work with our partners at the state, local, and federal levels to help protect communities, no matter their immigration status, from these chaotic and inhumane policies intended to dismantle families and communities.” *** “Today’s immigration actions from the new administration are inhumane, ineffective, dishonest, and excessively costly as our nation works to become financially stronger and address critical issues like the affordability of living expenses and safe and healthy environments. We will not tolerate the further dehumanization and erasure of our communities through proposed false solutions and militarization to attack us,” said Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González. “Immigrant communities of all backgrounds make our country better and stronger, from helping our cities flourish to contributing to our rural communities to helping Los Angeles recover from the current climate change-driven wildfires. We are inspired by immigrant communities’ innovation, community building, dedicated engagement, and being a pillar of the economy in countless ways, and we know our fight for climate justice is directly connected to immigrant justice. Today’s actions and abuse of power will cause long-term damage to entire neighborhoods, families, and local economies for the political profit of a few. Chispa will continue organizing our base to build protections and power across the country and work with federal, state, and local jurisdictions and partners to defend all our communities in the face of this hateful targeting.” ###

Trump’s Inhumane Executive Orders Targeting Immigrants Threaten All Communities and Civil Rights Read More »

ICYMI: Gulf residents, community members, and church leaders urge the Department of Energy to protect their communities at People’s Hearing on LNG

Chispa Texas, a program of the League of Conservation Voters, convened a People’s Hearing on the Environmental Justice Impacts of LNG to offer community members a chance to give public testimony as the Department of Energy (DOE) reviews and updates the data and analysis used in its Public Interest Determination to review LNG export license applications.

ICYMI: Gulf residents, community members, and church leaders urge the Department of Energy to protect their communities at People’s Hearing on LNG Read More »

Utility Watch Nevada’ Demands Greater Accountability from Energy Utilities

Frustrated by high energy bills and air pollution, a new effort empowers Nevadans to stand up to monopoly-owned utilities NEVADA — Today, community and environmental advocates launched ‘Utility Watch Nevada’ to demand greater accountability and transparency from NV Energy and Southwest Gas. The campaign reflects and builds on the frustrations of customers who are tired of inaction after repeatedly calling out volatile methane (natural) gas price spikes, unfair rate increases, and frivolous utility spending like paying for employee bonuses or a new gas plant, the first in nearly 15 years. Utility Watch will empower customers to demand action from Nevada’s energy utilities to meet their clean energy commitments while advocating for utility reforms that reduce pollution and provide real rate relief for hard-working families. Utility Watch Nevada is led by the Nevada Conservation League in partnership with Chispa Nevada, CHR, Inc. (Caring, Helping, Restoring Lives), Faith In Action Nevada, Faith Organizing Alliance, For Our Future Nevada, Moms Clean Air Force, and Solar United Neighbors. Utility Watch Nevada aims to: Expose tactics by NV Energy and Southwest Gas that hinder efforts to reduce pollution, make clean energy progress, and lower customer bills. Educate customers and community members about the impacts of utility energy decisions on their families and how to help shape a cleaner, safer, and healthier energy future. Mobilize and empower customers to demand stronger clean energy policies and regulations that ensure transparency, accountability, clean energy and energy efficiency, and affordable bills. Promote clear and fair rules that protect customers from unjust utility tactics and safeguard our communities from pollution. The campaign includes a petition empowering NV Energy and Southwest Gas customers to demand affordable, reliable, and clean energy. “It is unfair for these monopoly companies to increase their profits and continue polluting in a way that costs us all,” the petition states. “We are counting on our utility regulators and policymakers to end this and protect struggling families and businesses…Nevada families, not corporations and their Wall Street shareholders, must come first.” Utility Watch Nevada partners agree: “Utilities must prioritize the needs of their customers over their profits. While NV Energy and Southwest Gas report record profits, families and small businesses are left grappling with exorbitant energy bills that are driven by soaring methane gas costs and unchecked spending,” said Kristee Watson, Executive Director of Nevada Conservation League. “It’s time to stop investing in outdated, expensive, and polluting energy sources and prioritize smarter investments in local clean energy and energy efficiency.” “Corporate greed is forcing Nevada working families to choose between paying for groceries or paying their utility bills, and we need urgent relief,” said Audrey Peral, Program Director for Chispa Nevada. “Latine families already pay disproportionately higher bills and live in areas with the worst pollution and hottest temperatures. So long as NV Energy and Southwest Gas are relying on dirty and volatile gas, our families will continue to suffer. Enough is enough. The community is demanding change. Utility Watch Nevada is one way to hold corporate utilities accountable to a clean, healthy, and affordable future for all Nevadans.” “As a faith leader and community advocate, I see firsthand the struggles our communities face due to rising energy costs and air pollution, especially low- and fixed-income households. It’s disheartening to see monopoly utilities prioritize profits over the well-being of Nevada families,” said Dr. Mary House of CHR, Inc. “NV Energy and Southwest Gas must be held accountable for their costly decisions that drive our bills up. We must demand the transparency and fairness our friends, neighbors, and loved ones deserve. We have a moral obligation to ensure that all Nevadans, regardless of income, have access to clean and affordable energy. We must stand up to unjust utility practices that disproportionately affect our most vulnerable residents.” “Nevadans deserve affordable, reliable energy. We must hold utility companies accountable for their failures to meet those needs,” said Shaunda Johnson, Executive Director of Faith In Action Nevada. “Our communities, especially those already facing racial and economic injustice, cannot afford to shoulder the rising costs and pollution resulting from NV Energy and Southwest Gas’s outdated and harmful practices. Utility Watch Nevada will help foster the process by which people have the power to ensure transparency, accountability, and clean energy solutions. Together, we will build a future where all Nevadans have access to affordable, clean, and reliable energy, aligning with our shared values of justice, equity, and love.” “I am deeply disappointed, frustrated, and saddened by the soaring energy bills and the pervasive air pollution impacting our communities,’’ said Pastor Marlon of Faith Organizing Alliance. “This new effort empowers Nevadans to stand up to monopoly-owned utilities, demanding greater accountability and transparency from NV Energy and Southwest Gas. We believe that residents deserve affordable, clean energy and a voice in how these utilities operate. Our alliance is committed to ensuring that these corporations prioritize the well-being of the people they serve. Together, we can create a more just and clean energy future for Nevada.” For the past few years, Nevadans have suffered under soaring utility bills and ever-hazier skies while Southwest Gas and NV Energy pad their record profit margins and further commit themselves to dirty, expensive fossil fuels,” said Jarrett Clark, Communications Director at For Our Future Nevada. “From installing rooftop solar to reducing their usage through energy efficiency, Nevada families have gone to great lengths to save money on their energy bills and reduce pollution. But those efforts have been no match for the utilities’ unchecked corporate greed. We’re proud to join Utility Watch Nevada and empower working families to demand the affordable rates and clean air they deserve.” “At Mom’s Clean Air Force, we are committed to holding utilities accountable for their impact on our environment and the health of our families. We believe that transparency and responsibility are crucial in ensuring clean air and a sustainable future for our children,” said Mary Wagner, Moms Clean Air Force Nevada Organizer. “This campaign is an essential step toward demanding accountability and driving meaningful change in the way utilities operate, ultimately safeguarding the well-being of our communities and the planet.” “In a state as sunny as Nevada, every family should be able to reap the benefits of local solar power,” said Bret Fanshaw, West Region Director of Solar United Neighbors. “Unfortunately, Nevada utilities continue to show they will protect their profits and monopoly status over the rights of their customers to go solar. We support Utility Watch Nevada in order to help protect consumers and hold utilities accountable.” Learn more at UtilityWatchNV.org. ### About Utility Watch Nevada Utility Watch Nevada is a project of community and conservation organizations in Nevada. https://utilitywatchnv.org/

Utility Watch Nevada’ Demands Greater Accountability from Energy Utilities Read More »

LCV and Chispa Respond to MAGA Republican Efforts to Suppress Voters in Continuing Resolution

Washington, D.C. — Today, in response to extreme MAGA Republicans’ attempt to disenfranchise and suppress voters by attaching the SAVE Act to a government funding bill, the League of Conservation Voters and Chispa issued the following statements: “Extreme MAGA Republicans continue to attack our democracy and our freedom to vote by attempting to create even more barriers for eligible voters to exercise their rights at the ballot box instead of fulfilling their foundational responsibility of funding the government,” said LCV Senior Government Affairs Advocate David Shadburn. “Trump is now recklessly calling for a government shutdown if extreme MAGA Republicans don’t get their racist voter suppression bill that would undermine election integrity by making voting harder for millions of eligible voters. A MAGA shutdown would harm our communities and protections for our health and our planet, and only benefits those trying to enact the extreme Project 2025 agenda. Congress must get serious and pass a clean short-term continuing resolution into the lame duck.” *** “The SAVE Act is unnecessary and dangerous. It promotes false claims about election interference and erodes the integrity of our democratic process by suppressing eligible voters and casting doubt on a system that is already secure. This legislation and the rhetoric of its proponents are making our immigrant communities and communities of color further targets of hate. We are already facing numerous voter suppression and intimidation efforts, not only from extremist groups but even from our own government officials,” said Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González. “Such targeting, lies, and elevated hate speech about our Latinx communities are promoting a dangerous narrative that threatens to suppress our vote and threatens our safety across the country. The SAVE Act does nothing to help protect our communities and does nothing for election integrity. It only contributes to more eligible Americans having difficulty registering to vote and casting their ballots. Congress has a responsibility to safeguard our nation’s elections and make voting more accessible to all voters. They must continue to reject this legislation in all its forms and not perpetuate myths that put us in danger.” ###

LCV and Chispa Respond to MAGA Republican Efforts to Suppress Voters in Continuing Resolution Read More »

Left Without Power But Not Powerless

This summer, shortly after I started my internship with LCV and Chispa, all of my family in Houston was on high alert. This was because a hurricane was coming into the area. The last time we had a storm, there was a major flood, and we had a power outage for about four days, so we were nervous. Luckily we’ve learned from past experiences, and my immediate family (my Mom and sister) and I are now always prepared for any storm heading our way. While I was still bracing for a possible power outage, the more I read, the more it seemed like the storm had calmed down and that we wouldn’t be affected. This was not the case, especially when I fell asleep. During the eight hours I was asleep, the tropical storm turned into a hurricane, and the path shifted. It was hitting the Houston area dead on, and at 5 a.m., I woke up covered in sweat because our power was completely out. Luckily, I had emailed my supervisors saying this might happen, but this was just the beginning of a very long and arduous journey of surviving the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. The heat in the house started to ramp up. It got so hot that spending the day outside in the heat was better than inside our “oven house,” as my sister called it. If you have ever been to Houston in the summer, you know that spending longer than a couple of hours in the heat, even with shade, can be brutal. As we started our first day without power, we saw the news on our phones and realized that trees had fallen all over the city, damaging a lot of infrastructure. We learned some of this wind damage had happened right outside our house, including many of our neighbors’ roofs that fell off their house. We helped them put parts of their roof we found on the ground in our backyard so that the strong winds wouldn’t blow it away even further. News reports painted a picture of the whole city being in disarray, trees falling on people’s homes everywhere, and power outages facing 2.7 million people in Houston. We realized we probably wouldn’t have our power for at least today. As the day went on, the thought of getting power started to fade even more, and we realized that we had no idea when power would be returning. This was a sentiment that a lot of people in the area shared. We heard that a good number of people were getting some of their power back, with some businesses getting their power back, too. The heat was unbearable so I decided I wanted to get some A/C and some power to charge my laptop and my phone. So we went to some local businesses closer to downtown, and I began to notice a pattern. Higher-income areas were often the ones to get their power back first. Businesses and homes near the community I lived in, a diverse middle-class community, did not have power back yet. As I began to research more, I discovered it was because most people in wealthier neighborhoods had generators, while everyone else often didn’t. While charging my electronics in the coffee shop, I realized one company has a monopoly over all the energy in Houston: Centerpoint Energy. The electricity was out due to the Houston energy grid’s lack of regulation and diversification. All this caused me to understand events that have hit Houston and Texas in the past with a new viewpoint. It was a lack of government oversight that caused problems to become even worse. We were extremely desperate to get relief on the third day without power. We were lucky to find a restaurant not too far from us serving lunch, and it was like paradise. The A/C was blasting, and I finally felt at peace as I began to read while my sister and mom talked about where my sister wanted to go to college. After a long day of reading and eating at the nice air-conditioned restaurant, we decided to go home. Once we got home, it was still miserable. I went for a swim in our local pool to cool off. When I came home around dinner time, the power had finally come back on! The thermostat said the house’s temperature had risen to a boiling 95 degrees. It was like a miracle the power was on, and we were all celebrating as if power and electricity were something we had never had before. As the days and even weeks passed, more and more Houstonians started regaining their electricity. This was a good thing, but because of the massive power outages, Houston had 36 deaths that could have been prevented. Many of those deaths were due to power outages caused by Centerpoint’s lack of hurricane preparedness. While the governor is planning on investigating Centerpoint, I don’t know if the government will actually do anything about it. As climate change worsens, we can’t count on the government alone to fix things. Chispa and LCV have been working on the ground in states like Texas to help organize communities so the power of the people fights against these regional problems. For instance, Chispa Texas is working with community organizers to build grassroots power against air pollution in all communities, particularly communities of color. This pollution from refineries and Big Oil makes climate change worse and leads to stronger and more costly hurricanes like Beryl which wreck our communities. By interning at Chispa, I have been able to work on other community-driven solutions, such as creating Congressional memos for electric school buses and presenting my own environmental recommendations to the LCV organization. I have truly seen how to make a difference in the environment and our communities. This summer, I have been able to see why the work we’ve done these past few months can actually save lives. I want to thank Chispa for allowing

Left Without Power But Not Powerless Read More »

LCV Statement on Western District Of Louisiana Ruling on LNG Pause

For Immediate Release July 2, 2024 Contact: Kelci Hobson, khobson@lcv.org Washington, D.C.: In response to the U.S. District Court for Louisiana issuing a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by 16 Republican Attorneys General challenging the Department of Energy’s pause on permits for new LNG export authorizations, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa Texas released the following statement: “President Biden heeded the calls of young people and frontline communities in pausing the development of new liquefied methane gas export facilities. This historic step to take on the greedy Oil and Gas CEOs was the right thing to do for consumers, our communities, and our environment. Unfettered LNG exports raise energy bills, pump toxic pollution into the air that further threaten the health of communities neighboring these massive facilities, and fuel the climate crisis,” said Leah Donahey, Senior Federal Advocacy Campaigns Director at League of Conservation Voters. “Despite the ruling, the Department of Energy can and should continue its much-needed, common sense evaluation of whether or not these dangerous LNG exports are in the public interest. This lawsuit was filed by 16 Republican Attorneys General and is a blatant attempt to aid Big Oil and Gas CEOs who will stop at nothing to line their pockets while harming people, our pocketbooks, and the planet.” Previously, LCV launched a $2.5 million campaign in support of the Biden administration’s pause on permitting for LNG export facilities. This included a DC cable buy thanking President Biden for this latest decision in an unprecedented string of action to tackle the climate crisis and digital ads focused on the young people who have been pushing for this kind of bold action. For more information, see LCV’s LNG fact sheet. *** “Our communities along the Gulf Coast have suffered from toxic air pollution from fracked methane gas facilities in our backyards, endangering our health with illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, and cancer,” said Chispa Texas Program Director Elida Castillo. “The LNG pause is an opportunity for our Department of Energy to study these harmful effects and fulfill its public duty. But at every turn Big Polluters, and our state leaders who are supported by them, continue to seek irresponsible growth that prioritizes profits over the lives and livelihoods of people and the beautiful spaces we need and love. As our nation literally experiences record-breaking heat everywhere, it’s extremely disappointing that this much-needed action to combat the climate crisis and environmental injustice is facing these hurdles from those in the pockets of the oil and gas industry. Our communities most harmed by emissions of formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, and other toxins from these facilities should not continue to suffer, so fracked methane gas exporters can post record profits quarter after quarter. Our path forward to bring down energy costs for everyone and confront the global climate crisis begins with this pause and not the false narrative being sold to bring more destructive methane gas projects online.” ###

LCV Statement on Western District Of Louisiana Ruling on LNG Pause Read More »

Volunteer

Petitions

Donate

Sign Up for News & Updates