Letter to the editor: Inflation Reduction Act may save our planet

I think it has become obvious that the climate crisis is here now, with massive heat waves, wildfires covering thousands of acres in many western states, and flooding in places like St. Louis and Kentucky causing millions of dollars of damage.

And now comes the beginning of a solution to a warming planet from Washington. Climate activists have been happily startled to see Sens. Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer find common ground for spending billions of dollars to get the U.S. on the path to a green economy and away from fossil fuels, the main culprit in heating the world. We seem to have reached the 98-yard line in our efforts to save the planet from becoming less and less habitable for more and more of us. It’s time to focus on making those last two yards to get this legislation over the finish line.

If you want a planet that is livable for our children and grandchildren, I urge you to contact Sen. Bob Casey, letting him know that you support the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, legislation that will not only help to contain the climate crisis but also reduce the cost of prescriptions for Medicare recipients and extend subsidies to make the Affordable Care Act within reach for millions of people. And did I mention that it will reduce the federal budget in the process?

Please urge Casey to make sure that his fellow Democratic senators pass this act as quickly as possible.

Bruce Cooper

Cranberry

The writer is group leader of the Slippery Rock Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.