Two students from Stony Brook University participated in the Rachel Carson Council’s (RCC) second annual Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., where they engaged with U.S. Senators and Representatives to discuss key environmental issues. The event, which took place on March 27, included 75 students nationwide advocating for legislation on environmental justice, renewable energy policy, and pesticide regulation.
Josephine Wozniak-Veisseyre, a political science major from France, expressed her surprise at the opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers. “I never really thought that I would get a chance to just walk into those offices and talk to those people and meet a representative,” she said. She also noted the significance of meeting Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Delaware), describing the interaction as meaningful because “she actually took the time to talk to us.”
Wozniak-Veisseyre and Sabrina Cappella, an environmental studies major, focused their advocacy on ending federal subsidies for the wood pellet biomass industry. They highlighted concerns about such plants being located in marginalized communities and causing various forms of pollution. Wozniak-Veisseyre stated these facilities are “overbearing people with exposure to air pollutants … compromising water quality, creating noise pollution and creating smells.”
The students also sought support for RCC’s “Dear Colleague” letter against legislative riders promoting wood biomass carbon neutrality. Additionally, they backed preserving the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 amid growing congressional opposition. Wozniak-Veisseyre emphasized their goal: “We just wanted to bring that to attention,” noting potential repeals could hinder clean energy efforts.
They urged legislators for a comprehensive governmental approach towards environmental justice across federal agencies while opposing measures expanding pesticide use through proposed statewide regulatory caps.
RCC Advocacy Day aims to involve young leaders in shaping national environmental policies. Reflecting on her experience, Wozniak-Veisseyre remarked: “I pinched myself the entire day just being like, ‘Wow, this is not my government, but I get to talk to those people about issues that matter to me.’”
— Antonio Mochmann
