Rep. Judy Chu Asked to Take Leadership Role in Congress on Climate Change Legislation

The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Organizing for Action will be at Congresswoman Judy Chu’s South Lake Street office Wednesday morning to ask her to take a leadership role in Congress on climate change legislation and resources, in response to the upcoming wildfire season.

The grassroots organization, in a news statement, said an increase is needed in resources that corresponds with the increasing number of fires that harm individual homeowners and businesses at a cost of billions to the state’s economy.

“Automatic, across-the-board spending cuts caused by Congressional inability to deal with the sequester is forcing the Agriculture Department to shed 500 firefighters and 50 engines,” according to their statement.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Chu’s Pasadena office, 527 S. Lake Ave., the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Organizing for Action will speak about the harm wildfires are doing to the economy of California and to request that Rep. Chu lead on climate change issues in Congress.

The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Organizing for Action (OFA) is comprised of volunteers throughout Glendale, Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.

They said there have been 1,569 wildfires in California so far this year — 85 percent more than average. More than 40,000 acres have burned in California this month alone.

Also, California spends $800 million on fighting wildfires each year and these events are projected to increase 50 percent across the United States under a changing climate, over 100 percent in areas of the West by 2050 as projected by some studies, according to their news statement.

“When it comes to climate change, too many lawmakers refuse to accept the science—and the danger—we face,” according to their statement. “We can’t make real progress on this issue until Congress is forced to acknowledge the problem, and in the coming weeks OFA volunteers are planning for some serious on-the-ground action to do just that.”

For more information about Wednesday’s meeting at Chu’s office and more information about the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Organizing for Action, email ofasgv@gmail.com.