Change the Chamber Urges Senate to Pursue Funding That Protects Communities

By Erica Kriner, March 13, 2025

A government shutdown is not an ideal outcome, but passing a CR that ignores the urgent need for climate action and government accountability would be an even greater harm to the American people.

As the Senate prepares to vote on the Continuing Resolution (CR) recently passed by the House, the youth members of Change the Chamber urge all senators to consider the long-term impacts of this measure. The upcoming CR fails to protect critical environmental programs and preserve federal checks and balances against corporate influence. It would allow for drastic budget cuts by the Executive branch, despite claims from some legislators that this is a “clean CR” without poison pill riders. Change the Chamber instead encourages senators to hold out for bipartisan negotiations to best benefit our health, environment, and climate, instead of accepting this CR that was created as a result of partisan closed-door meetings.

Sustainable, long-term funding is necessary to support environmental remediation, critical health programs, and climate resilience efforts that protect communities from pollution and climate disasters. Instead of temporary fixes that fail to effectively address these urgent needs, we encourage our legislators to work towards developing a federal spending bill that promotes governmental accountability, transparency, and responsible policies to address these issues.

The CR directly threatens funding for environmental remediation efforts, veterans’ programs, and agricultural and public health initiatives. It also fails to sustain and bolster funding for essential initiatives to protect communities against pollution and climate disasters. Instead, it allows private interests to influence massive government spending cuts without oversight, jeopardizing our ability to address the climate crisis and protect the general welfare of the American people.

A government shutdown is not an ideal outcome, but passing a CR that ignores the urgent need for climate action and government accountability would be an even greater harm to the American people. Instead of temporary fixes that slash critical programs and sideline environmental priorities, we need viable solutions that ensure public funds serve the people, not climate obstructors. We urge the Senate to create and support a federal spending bill that upholds our nation’s environmental, health, and climate commitments, and invests in the well-being of all communities.

Erica Kriner, National Climate Fellow at Change the Chamber

Change The Chamber is a nonpartisan coalition of young adults, 100+ student groups across the country, environmental justice and frontline community groups, and other allied organizations.