congress 4 LIGHTHISER

AS A LEGISLATOR, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE LIGHTHISER V. TRUMP YOUTH PLAINTIFFS AND TAKE ACTION NOW!

If you are not a legislator, learn how to support this campaign here. 

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 directives that expand fossil fuel extraction and suppress climate change science.

Youth have filed the most important lawsuit of their lives! On May 29, 2025, 22 young plaintiffs from across the country sued 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,” aggressively increase fossil fuel development, block affordable renewable energy, and dismantle critical climate science. These actions knowingly worsen the climate emergency—and violate the Constitution. On June 13, 2025, supported by declarations from 24 experts and fact witnesses, the plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary judgment urging the court to immediately halt three sweeping Executive orders that will cause immediate and irrevocable harm if allowed to proceed. 

These directives are an attack on children, our scientific institutions, the rule of law, and our democracy. We need Congress to support the youth and their fundamental constitutional rights to life and liberty, including a stable climate system, free from government endangerment in its role in causing the climate emergency.

How You Can Support the Lighthiser Plaintiffs:

  • To show your support for the Lighthiser v. Trump youth plaintiffs right now, download the image here and post it on social media with the following caption:

    I stand with the 22 @youthvgov plaintiffs in the new federal climate case Lighthiser v. Trump, as they take the Trump administration to court over unlawful Executive orders that don’t just ignore science—they threaten irreversible damage to our planet and block young people from accessing life-saving climate information. I will rally in Congress everyday for youth’s fundamental rights, access to critical climate science, and a livable planet. Join me in supporting these brave young leaders fighting to protect their rights, futures and our democracy ✊🌎⚖️


    Visit ourchildrenstrust.org/congress4lighthiser-legislators to join legislators supporting the youth, then share using this social media toolkit: bit.ly/ClimateRtsResToolkit-Congress119

    • 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. This important resolution 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, block a clean, renewable energy transition, while suppressing Congressionally-mandated climate change science.

    • To cosponsor the resolution, see the contacts below:

    • Learn more about the exciting congressional concurrent resolution, which supports the principles underpinning Lighthiser v. Trump and children’s rights to a stable climate system, its organizational endorsers, and congressional cosponsors, here. 

    • Already a cosponsor? Post a message of support for the resolution and the 22 Lighthiser youth plaintiffs on your social media using a Social Media Toolkit, here (which includes captions and graphics).

      • Caption: I’m proud to stand with @youthvgov Lighthiser v. Trump youth plaintiffs & 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. Visit ourchildrenstrust.org/congress4lighthiser-legislators to join legislators supporting the youth, then share using this social media toolkit: bit.ly/ClimateRtsResToolkit-Congress119 #YouthvGov #YouthvTrump #Congress4Lighthiser 

    If you have any questions, please contact Liz Lee at liz@ourchildrenstrust.org.

    • Sign a future congressional amicus brief in support of Lighthiser v. Trump plaintiffs (In the past, 43 Senators and Representatives signed on a January 2025 joint amicus brief supporting children’s climate rights and the Juliana v. United States case.). 

    • Sign future member-led letters to President Trump or agencies in support of the fundamental right to life and the Lighthiser youth plaintiffs (In the past, 48 Senators and Representatives signed Senator Merkley’s letter and Representative Jones’ letter in November 2021 in support of the Juliana v. United States case. Similarly, Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org and Third Act, and Jerome Foster II, the youngest member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, delivered a letter to the Department of Justice on behalf of 167 organizations.).

    • Create and share a video (In the past, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer shared videos in support of Juliana v. United States.).

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

    Contact Liz Lee at liz@ourchildrenstrust.org for more information.