To the Journal editor:

“You say tomato, I say tomahto” as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong famously sang. However we might differ, we can all agree fresh produce is vital and delicious! Growing food requires a healthy climate, clean air, water and soil and resiliency to increasing natural disasters associated with climate change.

While local farmers are working hard this summer, national bipartisan teamwork is happening in Washington D.C. Let’s thank U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet).

Sen. Stabenow co-introduced the “Growing Climate Solutions Act” (S.3894) in June, now the House (H.R. 7393), with broad bipartisan support from more than 50 farm and environmental groups and businesses, including Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Michigan State University, Michigan Chapter-The Nature Conservancy, Michigan Agribusiness Association, and Michigan Milk Producers. Legislation like this incentivizes sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Rep. Bergman was in a bipartisan team who introduced the “Prepare Act” (H.R. 7552) in early July, aiming for financial support of small businesses responding to natural disasters. Our community has already seen the devastating effects of flooding and lakeshore erosion associated with the erratic weather patterns of climate change.

Like both the Growing Climate Solutions Act and Prepare Act, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763) is bipartisan-supported, cost-effective, and carbon-reducing legislation. While Stabenow is part of the Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, Bergman is in the House Climate Solutions Caucus — both active working groups discussing climate solutions such as H.R. 763.

Use your favorite social media platform to post your thanks to Senator Stabenow and Representative Bergman, or make a phone call, send an email, or write a letter.

Let them know how they can better serve their constituents by going to: cclusa.org/call and/or cclusa.org/tweet.

Climate solutions are possible. Encourage official resolutions at the state and city level in support of Carbon Fee and Dividend or climate action. Learn more at citizensclimatelobby.org and energyinnovationact.org about the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763). Marquette’s local Citizens’ Climate Lobby group meets monthly and has ongoing projects. Contact Kristen Carlson at marquette@citizensclimatelobby.org.

Let’s listen to one another thoughtfully, vote, and take an active role in protecting what we love here in the Upper Peninsula. We all live in this beautiful place together, and Earth deserves our stewardship.

Amy Wayes Doughty

Skandia