Global Warming lobbying trip to DC

On January 5, 2007, I visited the offices of Oregon Senators Wyden, Smith and representative Blumenauer. My goals were to: 1. meet at least one staff member in each office and establish a line of communication, 2. provide specific information about SPA and the growing concern in the community about how global climate change is threatening our health and our children's future, and 3. request that each senator or representative become a sponsor of powerful legislation to stop and reverse global climate change, if they aren't already. Climate change legislation for the new session hadn't been published yet, so I advocated for the language in the bills submitted in 2006, H.R. 5642 (The Safe Climate Act of 2006), and senate's version: The Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2006.

Below is a general report of my visit to each office. In addition to the four documents I provided to each office (also below), four other individuals from the Sellwood/Moreland community wrote personal letters that I hand-delivered.

Report

January 5, 2007

10 am: meeting in Senator Wyden’s office, suite 230 of the Dirksen Office Building in Washington, DC. I met with Dave Berick, Senior Advisor for Energy and Investigations and Grant Couch, Legislative Correspondent for about 40 minutes. I described the Sellwood Playgroup Association (SPA), my background in public health and physical therapy, my concern over the public health implications of global warming, and that there is growing concern over global warming in the community. I provided four information sheets in regards to this, with a focus upon water resources, the risks to agriculture and the subsequent threat to public health. These are attached to this report.

Mr. Berick told me that he agreed with my “bleak” outlook for the future with a business-as-usual approach. He stated that they have had meetings on this issue and are struggling to find approaches to legislation that will have a strong impact quickly, and will still stand a chance of passing in the Senate this session, when the democrats have a very slim majority and Bush remains President.

One of the large pieces of legislation coming up this session is the farm bill. Large and powerful agribusiness has a great concern of the current shift of the use of crops for biofuels—some 20% of crops are being burned in our gas tanks, so the price of corn and beans is on the rise for the Iowa farmer—corn is on an 11-year high, which is great for the farmer, but the multinational food companies are concerned because their costs have subsequently risen, reducing their profit margins and which may increase the cost of food to consumers.

He asked me the question, “What can we do to protect the Cascade snowpack?” I told him that there were no half-measures from a practical standpoint. The only thing that is going to protect our snowpack is a comprehensive approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I stressed the importance of a diverse approach, that biofuels is not solely the answer. Other alternative fuels and power sources must be developed quickly, CO2 must be capped, electric vehicles must be developed so that we don’t try to drive all our cars with crops. Dave made the point that even our most fundamental assumptions in government trend analysis and econometric models has carbon-based energy use increasing as the US population and energy demands increase. His point is that our entire system of operations is so based on carbon energy that a shift away from it is a monumental task.

I made the point that there is large and growing awareness and support in the community for strong action on global warming. It is no longer a political liability to step out on this issue, indeed there is a huge groundswell of public understanding and support for strong legislation. I encouraged them to have Sen Wyden really step up on this issue.

I thanked them for making such a strong position on benzene in the gasoline in Oregon. He told me that they have a February 7 deadline for the EPA nomination, so we are a month away from a make or break situation on the new EPA rule that addresses this. Dave found out that there is a very lucrative market for benzene, some $80/barrel for it, so there is an incentive for petroleum companies to separate it out. The issue is that the company in Alaska that feeds the pacific NW gas does not have the infrastructure to separate the benzene out of it. They would have to ship benzene by rail car or some other means, so it would be uncomfortable for the industry.

11 am: met with Alison Burket, Legislative Assistant in Sen Smith’s office. Smith believes that GW is an important issue. I stressed the impact that GW will likely have on the Oregon farms and crop production, as well as the insurance and timber industries. I focused on these because they were large contributors to Sen Smith’s campaign financing. Alison stated that he is a strong advocate for the Oregon farmer, protecting their ability to be productive. She was unable to speak to Sen Smith’s position on GW beyond his general position. I encouraged her to pass along the formal request that Smith support and vote for a very strong GW bill at the very least, but to consider co-sponsoring a bill that comes up. She said that she would give the senator my letter and my points and assured me that he would give it every consideration.

11:15 am: I visited Rep Earl Blumenauer’s office and asked if anyone could meet with me briefly. Janine Benner, Director of Legislation sat down with me for close to 10 minutes. I reviewed my material with her and she seemed familiar with all of the information except what is happening in Australia (see handout attached). She mentioned that Earl spoke just the night before about moving GW up on the democratic agenda this session. She mentioned that he is a huge proponent of GW bills, and cosponsored last session’s bill. She also mentioned that he is raising the idea of a carbon tax, something that I never imagined would be spoken about in my meetings. I offered my support to her or their office in any way that I could in this effort.

Letters to Sens Wyden, Smith and Rep Blumenauer

Eric R. Miller, PT, MHS
Sellwood Playgroup Association
1541 SE Malden St
Portland, OR 97202
503-545-7312 cell

January 5, 2007

Senator Ron Wyden
Grant Couch, Legislative Correspondent
David Berick, Senior Advisor for Energy and Investigations
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Ste 230
Constitution Ave and 1st St, NE
Washington, DC 20510-3703

Dear Senator Wyden, Mr. Couch and Mr. Berick,

This letter accompanies my visit to your Washington, DC office to discuss a rapidly growing concern among your constituents. I am an organizer of the Sellwood Playgroup Association, which brings together approximately 80 families with small children in my community. There is great concern among these families about the future of our children because of the scientific findings locally and worldwide regarding climate change.

On behalf of your constituents in my community, this letter is a request for you to sponsor powerful climate change legislation that includes a diverse and wide-sweeping set of provisions that are practical and attainable in our society. Specifically, I ask you to co-sponsor or actively support the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2006, authored by Senator Jim Jeffords, which provides such a comprehensive approach to this problem. As you are aware, the companion bill in the house, the Safe Climate Act of 2006 (H.R. 5642), is co-sponsored by your Oregon colleague and my representative, Earl Blumenauer.

As I know you are aware, the consequences of climate change in Oregon are growing and if greenhouse gas emissions are left unchecked will likely be devastating. Water resources critical to central and eastern Oregon farmers are becoming scarce. Water scarcity promises to escalate if we do nothing to preserve the snowpack that feeds our waterways and farms during the dry summer months. The insurance industry supports climate change mitigation because they understand the rising risks. Indeed some are dropping policies of homeowners living within a mile of the ocean because of these risks. The timber industry faces pests like the Mountain Pine Beetle, one that has destroyed some 440 million board feet of Logpole Pines (primarily in Canada, and also in the US) because warmer winter weather is failing to keep the insect’s population in check. Additionally, the skiing and other snow-based recreation industries in Oregon face a bleak future.

As you are also likely aware, The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change , released on October 30, 2006, provides a thorough analysis of the economic impact of climate change. It makes a strong case for immediate political action. Economists warn that, left uncontrolled, climate change will bring an economic slowdown equal to or greater than the Great Depression. The most serious economic damage can be averted if strong action is rapidly taken.

Actions that avert climate change could even enhance the economy. Efforts to control emissions will generate new business and jobs on the order of a $500 billion market for low-carbon goods and services.

As a public health professional and clinician, I have great concerns about the human health implications of climate change. Attached is a brief outline of these effects.

Recent doctoral work by Anthony Leiserowitz found that Americans already understand climate change as a significant risk and will support local and national action to reduce global warming emissions. What we Americans currently lack is a sense of urgency, strong leadership and political will regarding climate change. Rapid political action is necessary to avoid the worst effects of warming.

Your constituents look to you to take advantage of this political opportunity and to demonstrate strong leadership on this bipartisan issue that affects every Oregonian and American.

If you have any questions about the content of this letter or any information on the attached documents, please give me a call. I look forward to your response to my request.

Very sincerely yours,
Eric R. Miller, PT, MHS
Sellwood Playgroup Association

******
Senator Gordon Smith
Russell Senate Office Bldg, Room 404
Constitution and Delaware Aves, NE
Washington, DC 20510-3704

Dear Senator Smith:

This letter accompanies my visit to your Washington, DC office to discuss a rapidly growing concern among your constituents. I am an organizer of the Sellwood Playgroup Association, which brings together approximately 80 families with small children in my community. There is great concern among these families about the future of our children because of the scientific findings locally and worldwide regarding climate change.

On behalf of your constituents in my community, this letter is a formal request for your support of powerful climate change legislation that includes a diverse and wide-sweeping set of provisions that are practical and attainable in our society. Specifically, I ask you to co-sponsor or actively support the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2006, authored by Senator Jim Jeffords, which provides such a comprehensive approach to this problem. As you are aware, the companion bill in the house, the Safe Climate Act of 2006 (H.R. 5642), is co-sponsored by your Oregon colleague, Representative Earl Blumenauer.

The consequences of climate change in Oregon are growing and if greenhouse gas emissions are left unchecked will likely be devastating. Water resources critical to central and eastern Oregon farmers are becoming scarce. Water scarcity promises to escalate if we do nothing to preserve the snowpack that feeds our waterways and farms during the dry summer months. The insurance industry supports climate change mitigation because they understand the rising risks. Indeed some are dropping policies of homeowners living within a mile of the ocean because of these risks. The timber industry faces pests like the Mountain Pine Beetle, one that has destroyed some 440 million board feet of Logpole Pines (primarily in Canada, and also in the US) because warmer winter weather is failing to keep the insect’s population in check. I raise these particular points because these industries funded a large portion of your 2002 reelection campaign and you own a farm in Oregon.

The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change , released on October 30, 2006, provides a thorough analysis of the economic impact of climate change. It makes a strong case for immediate political action. Economists warn that, left uncontrolled, climate change will bring an economic slowdown equal to or greater than the Great Depression. The most serious economic damage can be averted if strong action is rapidly taken.

Actions that avert climate change could even enhance the economy. Efforts to control emissions will generate new business and jobs on the order of a $500 billion market for low-carbon goods and services.

As a public health professional and clinician, I have great concerns about the human health implications of climate change. Attached is a brief outline of these effects.

Recent doctoral work by Anthony Leiserowitz found that Americans already understand climate change as a significant risk and will support local and national action to reduce global warming emissions. What we Americans currently lack is a sense of urgency, strong leadership and political will regarding climate change. Rapid political action is necessary to avoid the worst effects of warming.

Your constituents look to you to take advantage of this political opportunity and to demonstrate strong leadership on this bipartisan issue that affects every Oregonian and American.

If you have any questions about the content of this letter or any information on the attached documents, please give me a call. I look forward to your response to my request.

Very sincerely yours,
Eric R. Miller, PT, MHS
Sellwood Playgroup Association

******
Representative Earl Blumenauer
2446 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Blumenauer,

This letter accompanies my visit to Washington, DC to meet with Senators Wyden and Smith. I was thrilled to have been provided a time to meet with Janine Benner, Legislative Director, when I dropped in to your office. The purpose of my visit is to discuss a rapidly growing concern among your constituents.

I am an organizer of the Sellwood Playgroup Association, which brings together approximately 80 families with small children in my community. There is great concern among these families about the future of our children because of the scientific findings locally and worldwide regarding climate change.

On behalf of your constituents in my community, I want to thank you for being a sponsor of H.R. 5642, the Safe Climate Act of 2006. Now that the House is in democratic control, I want to encourage you to not just continue your leadership on this issue, but to use the bully pulpit to ensure that climate change legislation passed by Congress is as strong as possible.

As I know you are aware, the consequences of climate change in Oregon are growing and if greenhouse gas emissions are left unchecked will likely be devastating. Water resources critical to central and eastern Oregon farmers are becoming scarce. Water scarcity promises to escalate if we do nothing to preserve the snowpack that feeds our waterways and farms during the dry summer months. The insurance industry supports climate change mitigation because they understand the rising risks. Indeed, some are dropping policies of homeowners living within a mile of the ocean because of these risks. The timber industry faces pests like the Mountain Pine Beetle, one that has destroyed some 440 million board feet of Logpole Pines (primarily in Canada, and also in the US) because warmer winter weather is failing to keep the insect’s population in check. Additionally, the skiing and other snow-based recreation industries in Oregon face a bleak future.

As you are also likely aware, The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change , released on October 30, 2006, provides a thorough analysis of the economic impact of climate change. It makes a strong case for immediate political action. Economists warn that, left uncontrolled, climate change will bring an economic slowdown equal to or greater than the Great Depression. The most serious economic damage can be averted if strong action is rapidly taken.

Actions that avert climate change could even enhance the economy. Efforts to control emissions will generate new business and jobs on the order of a $500 billion market for low-carbon goods and services.

As a public health professional and clinician, I have great concerns about the human health implications of climate change. Attached is a brief outline of these effects.

Recent doctoral work by Anthony Leiserowitz found that Americans already understand climate change as a significant risk and will support local and national action to reduce global warming emissions. What we Americans currently lack is a sense of urgency, strong leadership and political will regarding climate change. Rapid political action is necessary to avoid the worst effects of warming.

Your constituents look to you to take advantage of this political opportunity and to demonstrate strong leadership on this bipartisan issue that affects every Oregonian and American.

If you have any questions about the content of this letter or any information on the attached documents, please give me a call. I look forward to your response.

Very sincerely yours,
Eric R. Miller, PT, MHS
Sellwood Playgroup Association

Information Sheets

Sellwood Playgroup Association (SPA)

Three playgroups in the Sellwood, Moreland and Brooklyn neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon comprise the SPA. There are approximately 80 families with small children participating in one or more of these playgroups. This association serves to protect and promote the health, welfare and future of our children, families and community.

*****

Global Warming and Public Health

There are three categories of how global warming affects human health:

• Direct impacts from climate and weather changes
• Increases in infectious disease
• Changes in regional water availability


I. Direct impacts. Mortality and morbidity related to:
A. Increased intensity of weather events
B. Floods due to changing precipitation patterns
C. Increased intensity and frequency of heat waves
D. Extreme weather events lead to outbreaks of infectious disease

II. Infectious Disease:
A. Mosquitos,
1. Vector of disease transmission, including malaria and dengue fever
2. Are migrating into more northern latitudes and higher elevations with warmer environment
B. Outbreaks of water borne diseases, such as Legionnaire’s disease and E.coli are more frequent

III. Water:

None of the miraculous medical advancements of the 20th century has improved human health as profoundly as the ready availability of clean water. Climate change threatens regional water availability and clean water is required for human use to provide the most basic aspects of our health:

A. Safe hydration
B. Sanitation
C. Nutrition

*****

Oregon water resources, agriculture and climate change

Snowpack is the lifeblood of the West and provides about 75% of the water supply in the West.

Research indicates that warming during winter and spring has already produced substantial declines in mountain snowpack at most locations in the Pacific Northwest, earlier snowmelt runoff, and lower summer streamflow. An increasing proportion of winter precipitation is falling as rain rather than snow in the Pacific Northwest.

Scientists attribute the dominant factor of the declines in snowpack to climatic trends, not changes in land use, forest canopy or other factors.

The pacific NW waterways have on average 50% less water flowing in them, particularly in the summer growing season. Further decreases in water resources translate into an increasing risk of crop failure. This risk of crop failure is exacerbated in Oregon because 50% of crops are irrigated, only approximately 10% of precipitation falls during the summer growing season, and there has been an increase in the intensity and frequency of heat waves.

*****
Australia Today
November, 2006

• Australia has had 6 straight years of drought in the Murray-Darling river system, which feeds the majority of their farms.

• A September 2006 government report indicated that $3.5 billion of Australia’s $5.5b grain crop will fail this year.

• The Australian government has ceased grain exports.

• Farm income is expected to fall 72% this financial year.

• Farmers are culling livestock herds due to an inability to feed or sell them.

• One Australian farmer commits suicide every four days.

• The Australian Government has signed on to the Kyoto Protocol.

• One of the world’s largest solar power plants is being built.


Oregon Today

• Five of past 6 years have been drought years.

• Waterways in the Pacific NW have 50% less water in them, on average, than pre-industrial levels.

• There has been up to 25% reduction in snowpack in Cascades since 1930’s.

• 60% reduction already in coastal April snowpack.

• Snowpack is expected to decline 50-70% more by 2050.