“In case anybody has ever wondered whether lobbying your Congressperson works, I have just discovered that it actually does!”

“Dear PoPville,

In case anybody has ever wondered whether lobbying your Congressperson works, I have just discovered that it actually does! Recently, DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton responded to a deluge of phone calls, visits and letters from her constituents to join the Climate Solutions Caucus, a bipartisan caucus focused on climate issues. When she joined last week, Rep Norton tweeted, “Combating climate change has long been one of my top priorities. Even with Trump pulling the U.S. out of Paris Climate Accord, we’re still working on bipartisan solutions in Congress, and businesses and states are implementing strategies to save the planet.”

Representative Norton announced that she was joining the Climate Solutions Caucus alongside Representative Jenniffer González Colón (R) of Puerto Rico, which brought membership in the Climate Solutions Caucus up to 72–a remarkable feat, given that the caucus is strictly bipartisan.

Originally founded by Florida representatives Carlos Curbelo (R) and Ted Deutch (D), the caucus requires that every joining member bring a member of the opposite party to join as well. The fact 36 Republicans have now joined alongside 36 Democrats (barely two years after the caucus’ inception) shows that climate does not have to be quite as partisan as we thought.

Tackling a toxic environment and toxic politics all at the same time? Whoa. Nice work, Rep. Norton.”