January 31, 2020

Rep. Kilmer Invites Local Climate Activist to DC as State of the Union Guest

Washington, DC – Next week, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) will attend the State of the Union address with Mike Kelly, a climate activist from Kitsap County. Kelly is the Congressional District Liaison in Washington’s 6th Congressional District for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.

“Climate change is real, and it requires bold action. Thankfully, folks across our region are stepping up to raise awareness about the need to act, and Mike Kelly, local organizers, and the team at Citizens Climate Lobby are leading the way,” said Rep. Kilmer. “I’m proud to have Mike attend the State of the Union to continue the call for the President to listen to the American people who are not just demanding action – but leadership – to combat climate change and its impacts. We know that, if we do this right, we can not only help our planet – we can create quality jobs and sustainable economic growth.”

“In our region, we’re seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand. Our seas are rising, our forests are burning, and our economies are suffering from the impacts of a warming climate,” said Mike Kelly. “Luckily – the American people are organizing for change. And in places like Washington’s sixth congressional district, we have champions like Representative Derek Kilmer who are answering the call of duty and taking action to address climate change right now. I’m honored to attend the State of the Union on behalf of Citizens Climate Lobby in Washington’s Sixth Congressional District and the hundreds of thousands of advocates that are part of Citizens Climate Lobby across the nation who are organizing to make a difference and combat this urgent threat.”

“Climate change is an urgent, existential crisis, so it's important that Congress take notice. This invitation shows that Rep. Derek Kilmer certainly has taken notice. Rep. Kilmer has gone several steps further, cosponsoring major climate legislation like the bipartisan Energy Innovation Act (H.R. 763) a carbon pricing policy that will reduce our emissions 90% by 2050,” said Mark Reynolds, Executive Director of Citizens Climate Lobby. “All of us at Citizens' Climate Lobby appreciate Rep. Kilmer's action on climate change and his support of bold solutions. We're also grateful to Mike for all the time, energy, and passion he puts in as a CCL volunteer working to preserve a livable world. When Rep. Kilmer and Mike attend the State of the Union, they'll do so with the support and gratitude of 180,000 Citizens' Climate Lobby volunteers from across the nation." 

In September 2019, Rep. Kilmer led a coalition of more than 100 Members of the House in introducing an ambitious agenda to address the climate challenge with the urgency the crisis demands and to embrace the notion that the United States, through its powerful economy and culture of innovation, can be best positioned to be the global leader developing and producing the next generation technologies to help the international community combat climate change. This Congress, he has introduced legislation like the Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act (H.R. 729), which passed the House in December 2019.  Kilmer has co-sponsored the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 (H.R. 5221) to establish a nationwide goal of achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and directing every federal agency to develop and implement a plan for achieving that goal as well as the Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act (H.R. 1243) to address the health impacts of climate change and to provide dedicated resources to communities that are actively working to address these impacts. He also introduced the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act (H.R.1921), which passed the House in June 2019, to drive more federal support into ocean acidification research.

ABOUT MIKE KELLY:

Kelly is Founder and CEO at Tech DNA, a technology consultancy based on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Mike is also a political activist, starting with his work with Students for a Better Environment in college. He’s worked as a volunteer activist and is now the Congressional District Liaison in Washington’s 6th CD for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.

Mike received a BS in Computer Science from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.  Mike lives with his wife, Lisa Romasco, and his two sons, Kyle and Evan, on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

###