EESI Impact 29 - April 2026 | Newsletter

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Checking for a Climate Pulse in Congress

From EESI's President, Daniel Bresette

One year ago—three months into the second Trump Administration—I wrote to you about how EESI was breaking through on Capitol Hill. I cited as evidence the success of our “Welcome to Congress” outreach, which had generated more than 100 meetings with House and Senate offices on both sides of the aisle.

“Things have changed,” I wrote, summoning all my powers of understatement. “There is major uncertainty about everything in climate policy. But, thanks to your continued partnership, EESI is finding ways to make a positive impact.”

Since then, we have endured more bad news: the Administration has clawed back clean energy incentives, withdrawn from the UNFCCC treaty, repealed the Endangerment Finding … and the list goes on.

Yet more and more Congressional staff engaged with us, seeking out our trusted brand of nonpartisan, science-based educational resources. Why?

One big reason: energy prices are way up. Well, when you prioritize uneconomic fossil fuels and cancel infrastructure investments in buildings, transportation, and the grid, those costs get passed along to households … like yours and mine. People have had enough, and policymakers feel the heat.

So there is a climate pulse on Capitol Hill. And it beats louder as costs increase. (We expect it to get even louder.)

We tracked our Congressional engagement in real time last year. And we summarized it in a new report, “Vital Statistics.” To learn more, visit eesi.org/vitalstats for data, analysis, and insights about the essential work to educate policymakers that you make possible.