Congress Speaks as Focus the Nation Launches Nationwide Clean Energy Town Hall

[Update 4/17/09: Video statement from Van Jones, Special Adviser to the President for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation added]

In over 159 Congressional districts all across the country, citizens both young and old are coming together to organize Clean Energy Town Hall events and Focus the Nation on clean energy future. From Ann Arbor to Albuquerque and from Wichita to West Palm Beach, these Nationwide Clean Energy Town Halls are directly engaging over 60 members of Congress to discuss solutions to climate change and ways to build a sustainable and prosperous clean energy economy here in America.

The Focus the Nation nationwide clean energy town halls kicked off on Monday with an event in Philadelphia, featuring critical swing Senator, Arlen Specter (R-PA). Senator Specter joined students from Drexel University, community members and business leaders to discuss how to tackle climate change and seize the opportunities of the new energy economy. Students and community members then had a closed-door discussion with the senator's energy adviser, a hallmark of the kind of direct engagement with elected officials fostered by Focus the Nation.

In addition to live appearances from dozens of senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle at Focus the Nation events taking place across the country this week and through the weekend, video statements are flooding in now from members of Congress speaking directly to citizens and attendees of Focus the Nation events. Here's a selection of those videos, including both veteran Democrats like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and freshmen like New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Oregon Congressman Kurt Schrader, as well as Republicans like ranking Senate Energy Committee member Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Congressman Bob Inglis of South Carolina. These videos are a rare chance to hear these elected officials speak directly about the transition to a clean energy economy and the role of citizen engagement in the decisions ahead.

Senator Kirsten Gillebrand (D-NY):


Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK):


Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:


Representative Bob Inglis (R-SC):


Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR):


Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment:


U.S. Special Climate Envoy Todd Stern:


Van Jones, Special Adviser to the President for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation:


Check back at Focus the Nation for more videos coming soon, including a statement from Green Jobs pioneer turned White House special adviser, Van Jones. Look for a clean energy town hall event near you this weekend and help Focus the Nation on our clean energy future.