Hillary Clinton Statement on NRDC Endorsement

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton addresses supporters at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo, Iowa January 11, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein – RTX21X9X

On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton received the endorsement of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). This the first time the group has ever endorsed a presidential candidate. In a statement, Rhea Suh, president of the NRDC Action Fund, said “Hillary Clinton is an environmental champion with the passion, experience and savvy to build on President Obama’s environmental legacy. More than any other candidate running, Hillary Clinton understands the environmental challenges America faces, and her approach to solving them is grounded in the possibility and promise our democracy affords us.”

Clinton released a statement in which she spoke about the importance of protecting the environment, and she pledged to fight alongside groups, such as the NRDC, who are fighting to protect the environment and fight climate change. Her full statement is below:

“I am honored to have earned the first-ever presidential endorsement of the NRDC Action Fund.

Climate change is real, it is being driven by human activity, and it is happening right now. We can’t wait for climate deniers and defeatists to get on board–we need to take immediate action to build on the progress President Obama has made in fighting this unprecedented global threat. We need to use every tool we have to make America the clean energy superpower of the 21st century and to make sure no one is left out or left behind in the clean energy economy, from communities struggling with the legacy of environmental racism to the coalfield communities that kept America’s lights on for generations.

That’s why I have a comprehensive plan to combat climate change with bold, national goals to expand clean energy, boost energy efficiency, and slash oil consumption. I will fight alongside the NRDC Action Fund for environmental and climate justice and invest in building a bright future for coalfield communities. And together, we can get half of our electricity from clean sources within 10 years, create millions of good-paying jobs, protect our communities from the dangerous climate impacts that we’re already seeing, and ensure America is leading the world in the fight against climate change.

The stakes for our children’s health and the future of our planet have never been higher. The presumptive Republican nominee has called climate change a Chinese hoax and called for scrapping the landmark Paris climate agreement. He has pledged to open up millions of acres of pristine public lands and waters to fossil fuel production at a time when America’s public lands are under unprecedented pressures. We need to be accelerating the transition to a clean energy future, not letting a climate denier doom our children to a future beyond their capacity to repair.

It has never been more critical that we come together to face the shared challenge of climate change–because there is no Planet B.”

For all the latest, follow our revamped Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The Washington Post

Hillary Clinton Unveils Environmental, Immigration Plan Details

On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton delivered two major speeches during which she outlined her plans for environmental action and her proposal to create a Department of Immigrant Affairs to help immigrants become American citizens. This morning, Clinton was endorsed by the New York State Immigrant Action Fund, and Clinton attended a round table event during which she discussed her plans for immigration reform. She criticized Republican Donald Trump for his anti-immigration rhetoric and vowed to help immigrants become American citizens. During her remarks, she proposed the introduction of a Department of Immigrant Affairs that would work at all levels of government to assist immigrants and refugees as they settle in the United States.

In the afternoon, Clinton spoke at the National Action Network Convention where she was introduced by Rev. Al Sharpton. Clinton introduced her plan for environmental and climate justice which is a small part of her larger Breaking Every Barrier agenda. The plan not only includes fighting climate change, but eliminating lead as a public health threat. The main points of the plan include:

• Eliminating lead as a major public heath threat within five years
• Protesting public heath and safety by modernizing drinking and wastewater systems
• Prosecuting criminal and civil violations that expose communities to environmental harm and work with Congress to strengthen public health protections in our existing laws
• Creating new economic opportunity through brownfield clean-up and redevelopment
• Reducing urban air pollution by investing in clean power and transportation
• Broadening the clean energy economy, build career opportunities, and combat energy poverty by expanding solar and energy efficiency in low-income communities and communities of color
• Protecting communities from the impacts of climate change by investing in resilient infrastructure
• Establishing an Environmental and Climate Justice Task Force to make environmental and climate justice, including cumulative impacts, an integral part of federal decision-making

A video of speech is below and a transcript can be read HERE. Full details of Clinton’s Environmental and Climate Justice plan can be read on The Briefing.

Clinton then spoke at an organizing event in the Bronx. During the event, she spoke about a variety of topics including working for New York as senator, improving education, building upon the progress made in heath care, and ensuring that all Americans have an opportunity to prosper. She took the time to point out the differences between her and her Republican rivals, especially front-runner Donald Trump. She said, “He wants to build walls; I want to build bridges.” Clinton went on to ask for everyone’s support during next week’s primary. A video from the event is below.

For all the latest, follow our revamped Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: Norwood News, MSNBC, International Business Times, Think Progress, The Briefing

Hillary Clinton Addresses AIPAC

On Monday morning, Hillary Clinton addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) where she pledged her support for Israel if elected president. She said, “America can’t ever be neutral when it comes to Israel’s security and survival.” Her comments were in direct opposition from those of Republican front-runner Donald Trump, who has not appeared to be as friendly toward Israel. Clinton assured Israelis that with her at the helm, Israel would would have the full support of the United States, and she would continue to supply Israel militarily, combat anti-Semitism, ensure Iran holds to its end of the recent nuclear agreement, and continue to combat Iranian proxies such as Hezbollah.

Her address has been criticized by some as pandering, but Clinton made it clear that she would continue President Barack Obama’s stance toward Israel while defending the nuclear agreement with Iran. Republican presidential candidates Trump, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich were all scheduled to address AIPAC today as well. Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders did not attend the event, but focused on Tuesday’s primaries instead. A full video of Clinton’s speech is below and a transcript is available HERE.

Clinton then went to Phoenix, Arizona for a rally before tomorrow’s primary. During her speech at Carl Hayden Community High School, Clinton talked about a number of her platform points including heath care, added assistance for small businesses, and immigration reform. She also spent part of speech talking about the current political environment. She vowed to work with Republicans and Democrats alike if elected president saying, “I don’t remember anything like this. I will do anything we can to find a common ground. Anger is not a strategy.” A video from the event will be added when/if available.

For all the latest, follow our revamped Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: Phoenix Business Journal, The New York Times

Bill, Chelsea Among Those Campaigning for Hillary Today

On Monday, a number of campaign events and fundraisers were held in support of Hillary Clinton. In North Carolina, Bill Clinton attended three organizing events in preparation for the state’s primary on March 15. Hosting events in Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte, Bill spoke about his wife’s experience and her career as a change maker. At each of the events, he spoke about a variety of topics including higher education, student debt, heath care, and the economy. He took shots at both the Republican presidential candidates and Hillary’s Democratic rival Bernie Sanders, though he did not mention any of them by name. He asked supports to vote for Hillary in the upcoming primary because “this is a big election.” Videos from the events in Raleigh and Charlotte are below.

Chelsea was in Michigan campaigning for her mother before tomorrow’s primary. Appearing at events in Detroit, East Lansing, and Grand Rapids, Chelsea spoke about her mother’s experience and plans to move the country forward. In Detroit, Chelsea attended a college affordability round table at Wayne State University. She spoke about Hillary’s plan to make college more affordable for those who cannot pay for tuition. She drew a distinction between Hillary’s plan and that of Sanders saying, “Families who have done well in our country should still continue to pay tuition for their students to go to college. For those who haven’t yet done well yet, for lower-class families, even middle-class families, their children should be able to go to public universities tuition-free. Everyone should be able to graduate debt-free.” Sanders’ plan calls for everyone to get free tuition, regardless of income level.

A number of other events took place across the world today in support of Hillary and Hillary for America. In London, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright attended two fundraisers which were attended by American citizens living abroad. Meanwhile, back in Michigan, Senior Policy Advisor Jake Sullivan attended a fundraiser in Birmingham. The final event of the day was a virtual fundraiser hosted by Former Under Secretary of State Bob Hormats. The topic of conversation for the virtual gathering was Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.

For all the latest, follow our revamped Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The News & Observer, Greensboro News & Record, The Charlotte Observer, Lansing State Journal, The Detroit News,

Clinton Unveils Prescription Drug Plan in Iowa

On Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton continued addressing heath care issues by announcing her plan to curb the rising costs of prescription drugs. Speaking at Moulton Elementary School in Des Moines, Iowa, Clinton said that, “We’re going to add on to the good work that was done by the Affordable Care Act.” The plan she outlined would require pharmaceutical companies to reinvest profits into research, allow for the import of drugs from other countries, expand opportunities for generic medications, allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug costs, and cap the out-of-pocket expense for everyday Americans with chronic health issues.

Clinton made it clear that she would tougher on the companies, especially since many of them receive tax payer funded grants from the government to supplement the funding of their research. Then, they charge an exorbitant amount for the drug. She said, “That is not the way the market is supposed to work. That is bad actors making a fortune off of people’s misfortune. Pharmaceutical companies can charge astronomical fees, far beyond anything it would take to recoup their investment and far beyond.” Read a full fact sheet of Clinton’s plan from The Briefing.

Clinton also made headlines during the event when she declared that she is against the building of the Keystone XL Pipeline. She said, “I think it is imperative that we look at the Keystone XL pipeline as what I believe it is: A distraction from the important work we have to do to combat climate change, and, unfortunately from my perspective, one that interferes with our ability to move forward and deal with other issues. Therefore, I oppose it. I oppose it because I don’t think it’s in the best interest of what we need to do to combat climate change.” The video below is not complete and will be updated when/if a full is available.

For all the latest updates, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: USA Today, CNN, NBC News

Clinton Comes Out Against Drilling in Arctic

The Arctic is a unique treasure. Given what we know, it's not worth the risk of drilling. -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 18, 2015

On Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton tweeted her support for protecting the Arctic from oil drilling. Several Republicans were quick to criticize Clinton’s position, but her stance against drilling in the Arctic goes against several members of her own party, including President Barack Obama. Clinton’s tweet was praised by a number of environmental groups including Greenpeace.

News Source: Politico

Clinton Makes Third Trip to Iowa

Since announcing her presidential campaign in April, Hillary Rodham Clinton has made two stops in Iowa. Today, she was in Iowa again, visiting Iowa City where she addressed a large crowd of supporters. In her speech, Clinton hit on a number of topics including women’s access to health care, the environment, gun control, and the recent Supreme Court decisions upholding the Affordable Care Act and legalizing same-sex marriage. As Iowa City is the home of Iowa State University, Clinton also spoke about the rising cost of college tuition and called for making college more affordable. After her speech, she took questions from reporters on topics ranging from the Greek debt crisis and her fellow Democratic competitor, Bernie Sanders.

Following her stop in Iowa City, Clinton headed for Ottumwa where she met with supporters at a grassroots organizing event. She then took questions from the crowd. Hillary for America has been very active in Iowa since April, and the campaign has started organizing larger events for Clinton as she continues to travel across the country.

While in Iowa, Clinton also sat down with CNN’s Brianna Keilar. The interview will be posted once it is available.

New Source: The New York Times, Politico

CGI Annual Meeting Begins Tomorrow

The 10th Annual Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting begins tomorrow and runs through Wednesday, September 24. The event is being held in New York City and will feature a wide variety of speakers including Matt Damon, General Motors CEO Mary Barra, King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, Melinda Gates, President Barack Obama, and countless other world leaders, CEOs, and leaders of non-profit groups that have partnered with CGI. The event will feature four days of roundtable discussions covering a wide variety of topics including the environment, leadership, education, and women’s rights. Former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton are hosting the Annual Meeting and will participate in a number of the discussions.

This year’s theme is “Reimagining Impact” which CGI has designed “to facilitate the development of forward-thinking approaches that re-envision the way we impact the world.” The key idea throughout the discussions and breakout sessions will be creating a better future. The majority of the sessions include a number of speakers from different backgrounds to bring a unique perspective to each topic. Hillary will participate in five of the discussions, which are outlined below (all times are EST):

–September 22 – 12:00 – 1:30 PM – “Reimagining Impact”

-September 23 – 4:15 – 5:30 PM – “Putting Education to Work”

–September 24 – 8:45 – 10:30 AM – “Equality for Girls and Women: 2034 Instead of 2134”

–September 24 – Film – “The Science of Success: Investing in Babies’ Minds”

–September 24 – 3:30 – 4:45 PM – “Aiming for the Moon and Beyond”

We will post a summary and video from Hillary’s discussions at the end of each day. In the meantime, you may visit the CGI website for more information, including a full list of speakers and the complete agenda. CGI will also broadcast each of the sessions live on LiveStream, which we encourage you to watch.

An image of the schedule is below. Discussions in which Hillary is participating are outlined in red, Bill Clinton’s discussions are outlined in blue, and Chelsea Clinton’s are outlined in green.