I stand w/ @youthvgov Lighthiser v. Trump youth. Urge Congress to cosponsor the Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life & a Stable Climate System resolution that opposes Trump’s directives that unleash fossil fuels, block clean energy & suppress climate science. bit.ly/ClimateRtsResolution119 #YouthvTrump  ✊🌎⚖️

1.  Begin the call by identifying yourself as a constituent: state your name, city, and zip code.

2.  State why you support this case and personalize your message:

• Tell your legislators why you support the 22 Lighthiser v. Trump youth plaintiffs and the constitutional rights of young people to life, liberty, and property free from government endangerment.

• Share with your legislators a brief personal story about why you care - and why your legislators should care, too:

  • Despite knowing the danger climate change poses to children’s fundamental rights, the Trump administration has directed Executive orders that will exacerbate the crisis by expanding fossil fuel extraction and suppressing climate science research. 

  • The President cannot strip any person of their fundamental rights to life and liberty without due process of law. For the youth plaintiffs, the right to life means more than mere survival—it encompasses the ability to grow up healthy, pursue happiness, and live freely. These are the very ideals our nation’s founders enshrined in our constitution. But such rights are impossible with an unstable climate ravaged by fossil fuel pollution. A livable climate with clean air, pure water, and stable coastlines are the foundation upon which all other freedoms stand, and where life begins. 

  • Already living through decades-long fossil fuel expansion and harmful climate impacts, the youth plaintiffs are fighting to stop Trump’s energy Executive orders and the dangers they cause, and secure the right to a safe, livable future for themselves and for generations to come. And we must stand together with the youth!

  • The renewable energy transition needs stability and certainty, something only the durability of constitutional rights can provide. The Trump administration impedes the market’s ability to bring the cheapest and cleanest form of energy to consumers.

  • Silencing federal scientists and suppressing access to critical data that informs solutions and blocks young people’s ability to understand and address the climate emergency to protect their future.

3.  Explain what actions your legislator can take:

• Ask legislators to publicly support the Lighthiser v. Trump climate lawsuit and the constitutional rights of young people to life, liberty, and property free from government endangerment in its role in causing the climate emergency. Ask your member of Congress to show support in any or ALL of these ways:

• Cosponsor the concurrent resolution, Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life and a Stable Climate System resolution (S.Con.Res.18 and H.Con.Res.44), introduced by sponsors Senator Merkley and Representatives Schakowsky, Jayapal, and Raskin on July 16, 2025.

• Post a message or video of support on social media using a social media toolkit, here.

• Sign onto a future amicus brief in support of the Lighthiser plaintiffs.

• Make a public statement of support on the floor of the House or Senate.

4. Finish the call with a strong ask of your legislator:

Tell your legislators that they must do everything in their power to address the climate emergency right now, including cosponsoring the concurrent resolution recognizing Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life and a Stable Climate System and publicly supporting the Lighthiser v. Trump lawsuit.

1. Follow the instructions above to find your legislator. Call the DC office for the email address of the climate/energy staffer or Legislative Director.

2. Personalize the email template below:

• Tell your legislators that they must do everything in their power to address the climate emergency right now, including cosponsoring the concurrent resolution recognizing Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life and a Stable Climate System and publicly supporting the Lighthiser v. Trump lawsuit.

Dear [Name of member of Congress or staff],

[Share with your legislators a brief personal story about why you care - and why your legislators should care, too.] The United States government has known about the causes and dangers of climate change for more than half a century. Yet the Trump administration has issued executive orders that expand fossil fuel extraction and suppress climate change science. In the new constitutional rights lawsuit, Lighthiser v. Trump, 22 brave youth are suing President Donald J. Trump and numerous federal agencies and officials for “unleashing” a coordinated assault on health and safety.His recent Executive orders declare a so-called “National Energy Emergency,” accelerate fossil fuel production, block clean renewable energy, and suppress climate science. These actions knowingly worsen the climate emergency—and violate the Constitution. These directives are an attack on children, our scientific institutions, the rule of law, and our democracy. 

I ask Congress to support children’s fundamental constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property, including a stable climate system, free from government endangerment in its role in causing a climate emergency. Will you cosponsor a critical resolution to protect the rights and lives of our young people? The resolution number is S.Con.Res.18 and H.Con.Res.44. The full text of the resolution is HERE.

The Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life and a Stable Climate System resolution was introduced by sponsors Senator Merkley and Representatives Schakowsky, Jayapal, and Raskin on July 16, 2025. It recognizes a health and safety emergency disproportionately affecting the fundamental rights of children due to the Trump administration’s directives that unleash fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, and block a clean, renewable energy transition, while suppressing Congressionally-mandated climate change science. It demands that the executive branch comply with congressional statutory mandates, reverse the ongoing implementation of the unconstitutional Executive orders, and put the U.S. on a trajectory consistent with reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide to less than 350 parts per million by 2100.

• *To cosponsor the House resolution, fill out the form HERE or contacting the resolution sponsor/co-lead: Jaqlyn Alderete (Jaqlyn.Alderete@mail.house.gov) of Representative Schakowsky’s office, Serena Baserman (Serena.Baserman@mail.house.gov) with Representative Jayapal’s office, or Joe Tesfaye (Joe.Tesfaye@mail.house.gov) with Representative Raskin’s office. 

• To cosponsor the Senate resolution, contact the resolution sponsor: Ben Schreiber (Ben_Schreiber@merkley.senate.gov) of Senator Merkley’s office.

If you already cosponsored the resolution, please post a message or video of support on social media using a social media toolkit, here. Please encourage your colleagues to support these brave young Americans and visit the webpage here. 

Children and future generations deserve a livable planet without being burdened by a lifetime of hardship. I hope you will consider leading this critical resolution to protect children’s rights. 

Sincerely,

[your name]

[your location] 

[your email address]