Republican Representative Tom Reed of the twenty-third Congressional district has joined the Climate Solutions Caucus, making the decision to do so on March 30.
Reed’s district covers much of the Southern Tier, including Houghton. Students, including the Houghton EcoReps, have been in frequent contact with Reed’s office, largely through the Do Something Table. The Do Something Table mobilizes students every Thursday to contact Reed and other elected officials about environmental and immigration policy. According to Student Government Association President-Elect, Sergio Mata ‘19, the Do Something Table asked students to call Reed about joining the caucus on March 23. “We do think the Do Something Table had some impact on Reed’s decision,” he said. According to EcoReps member Sarah VandeBrake ‘18, students have asked Reed to join the caucus repeatedly before March 23.
According to the Climate Solutions Caucus website, “The Caucus will serve as an organization to educate members on economically-viable options to reduce climate risk and protect our nation’s economy, security, infrastructure, agriculture, water supply and public safety,” according to documents filed with the Committee on House Administration. It is co-chaired by two South Florida representatives, Democrat Tom Deutch and Republican Carlos Curbelo.
Backdropping Reed’s decision to join the caucus is National Fuel’s proposed Northern Access Pipeline, which will bring hydro-fracked natural gas from Pennsylvania through Reed’s district. The project was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on February 4 according to National Fuel.
Reed drew irritated crowds in the hundreds to his round of town hall meetings in February. The “early anger” was out of the ordinary for the consistently Republican district which heavily supported President Trump, according to NPR. EcoReps members and Mata travelled to his meeting in Fillmore on February 18. Faculty advisor to the EcoReps, Brian Webb, said the students asked Reed “face to face what he wants to do about climate change.
Further action was taken by Houghton Students following the town hall meeting. On March 18-21 Mata took a group of students to Washington D.C. to lobby their senators and representatives as part of his internship with the Friends’ Committee on National Legislation. “We talked to Reed about why it’s important to oppose cuts to Medicaid and [the supplemental nutrition assistance program] SNAP,” he said.