Calvin College Students Lobby Politicians on Climate Change

Three Calvin College students and one recent grad spent spring break in Washington, D.C., lobbying politicians. It was part of the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s (FCNL) Lobby Weekend. Jon Gorter and Audrey Hughey, a recent graduate, are both members of Church of the Servant Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Calvin College is located. They were joined by Annaka Cheeres and Jenna VanBruggen. Their goal? Convince politicians to enact legislation to protect creation from climate change.

“There were nearly 300 motivated individuals from all backgrounds at the event,” said Gorter, who organized their trip. “We were glad to represent the Christian Reformed Church and to have our say in what we think the environmental movement has become.”

Gorter, Hughey, Cheeres, and VanBruggen want to steer climate change legislation to include all citizens. During the conference, they lobbied Michigan U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters to cosponsor the Shaheen Portman Bill—a low-cost bipartisan bill proposing new building, manufacturing, and energy codes. The students also lobbied Michigan Rep. Justin Amash to cosponsor the Prepare Act—legislation addressing extreme weather precautions.

“The church needs to be at the forefront of the environmental movement,” said Gorter. “For too long has this movement been clouded by political opinion and personal bias.”

The weekend ended with an organized “Lobby Day.” FCNL lobbyists visited senators’ offices to talk about their political views. Hughey, Gorter, Cheeres, and VanBruggen met with Jordan Wells, one of Sen. Gary Peters’s staff members.

“We sat down and talked for 30 minutes or so about Michigan, how we felt about climate change, and why it mattered personally to our group, to Calvin College, and to the church we were representing,” said Gorter. “Afterward, I felt proud and privileged; proud that I spoke up for my beliefs, and privileged that I was allowed to do so, simply by scheduling an appointment.”