Pursuing climate corps legislation

Guest Perspective: Morgan Rielly, House District #127 Representative, Maine Legislature

Legislative support for a climate corps is helpful to build a durable initiative or program that has buy-in from a broad network across the state. In this article, I walk through several steps that worked in Maine and may help you develop and pass legislation. These steps include 1) set the stage for legislation, 2) build a diverse coalition, 3) be flexible to respond to multiple priorities, 4) align messaging with funding, and 5) consider workforce connections.

Set the stage for legislation. It is crucial that a climate corps is carefully considered and has input from a diverse array of stakeholders early in the process. This is why passing a resolution to study a climate corps, with language for legislation to be introduced after the study, was such a critical first procedural step in Maine. This process allowed advocates, service commissions, legislators, the governor, and other interested parties to work together to build consensus and map out a program that fits what communities need and aligns with the state’s short and longterm climate action goals.

Build a diverse coalition. In support of the development of the state’s study, Maine Climate Corps: Inspired by History. Designed for Today., we engaged a wide variety of stakeholders to develop a climate corps that could be supported across the state. Service programs should unite people of all backgrounds. They should be bold, but not divisive; otherwise, it will be hard to get legislation passed and get buy-in for the program. Recommended partners to engage with as you develop your own climate corps legislation include state service commissions, climate experts, researchers, climate corps leaders in other states, state agency climate program leaders, local nonprofit organizations, previous AmeriCorps members, and community representatives.

Be flexible to respond to multiple priorities. Tapping into different state priorities is a great way to move the conversation forward across the board. **A climate corps that has a broader array of focus areas will lead to a broader coalition than a corps with a singular focus area (i.e., clean energy workforce development or conservation of public lands). The corps also has to have the necessary flexibility and breadth to work on climate mitigation issues along with assisting communities with climate resiliency in a variety of focus areas to maximize its impact throughout the state. To build connections and support for your climate corps legislation, identify key points of interest and priorities that align with what you want in the legislation. Utilize advocates that have close connections with legislators and highlight aspects of the corps that resonate with members. In Maine, some people wanted to discuss specific climate aspects, such as energy efficiency or water conservation. Others wanted to discuss universal topics such as energy conservation, home weatherization, invasive species monitoring, and the benefits to Maine’s fishing industry. The Maine Climate Corps operates as an umbrella organization that can include other programs that align with its mission. Having a climate corps house multiple programs will increase the likelihood a corps has strong expertise in the tasks. It is also easier to cover multiple priorities and connections to businesses in the sector, which will translate over to future employment for members.

Align messaging with funding. One key messaging point that was successful across the state of Maine was focusing on corps or service programs in general, as there was existing support for funding this vein of opportunity. We highlighted that investing in service programming, like a climate corps program, is a fiscally smart investment that will leverage state and future federal monies in order to make the strongest possible impact in addressing climate related issues our state faces in a systematic and efficient way. It is key to get members of the governor’s staff, legislators who sit on the committee regarding appropriations, and strong advocacy organizations to not only support a climate corps but advocate for its funding.

Consider workforce connections. A successful bipartisan climate corps will provide on-ramps to meaningful careers that are in-demand. A climate corps will provide training, credentials, and on-the-job experience that will prepare community members with the skills needed by the state’s employers. Small communities and organizations need added human resource capacity to combat some of our biggest challenges. Because of this, building broad support from municipalities, labor, climate and conservation organizations, and more is crucial in both developing and passing a climate corps program.

Even if you are successfully moving through these five steps, it is important to be opportunistic about timing for putting your legislation forward. Capitalize on relevant state priorities, capacity, and service program allies in the state to put forward a climate corps that is the right fit for your communities. Once your bill passes, you may receive some startup funding, but the work is only just beginning. You will need to find ongoing funding and may get resistance down the line from early supporters or new actors. Leverage successes in other states, work with your climate corps supporters, and continue to adapt your strategy as you move through the stages of implementation.