Blog: The Safety and Resilience of Our Communities Depends on Bold Investments in the Build Back Better Act

Mesa City Councilmember Francisco Heredia represents District 3.

Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona with a diverse population of over 518,000 people. As this number increases, it is urgent that we prioritize solutions to curb the impacts of the climate crisis so that we can build the safety and resilience our communities deserve.   

The City of Mesa is taking action to make sustainable improvements for our residents, and have released a Climate Action Plan to protect and conserve Mesa’s environment and natural resources.. To bolster this effort,  we need to make investments that tackle the climate crisis, and have tangible benefits for Arizonans. Fortunately, Congress is working on a bill, the Build Back Better Act, that would make a difference for our city and state that will  mitigate wildfires and protect forests and watersheds, address drought impacts and land and water issues, and act boldly on the climate crisis, and we need Senator Kelly and Senator Sinema to support it.  

We’ve witnessed wildfires ravage Arizona as a result of dry seasons that span longer and longer time frames, and other extreme weather events that underscore that the climate crisis is here. The time to act is now.  

Included in the Build Back Better Act are reforms to fix the broken federal oil and gas program that will raise revenue, create jobs, and cut down on pollution that drives climate change and stacks the deck against Latino communities that already experience disproportionate effects of climate change. Further investments in our air, land, and water and the creation of a Civilian Climate Corps will ensure that Arizona is ready to tackle the climate crisis and properly prepare for its impacts. 

Senator Kelly and Senator Sinema will play a crucial role in ensuring Congress makes the big, bold investments we need. They should do whatever it takes to pass a bill that will actually protect our communities for generations to come.