The following are remarks delivered by outgoing DFL Environmental Caucus Chair, Veda Kanitz. 

Helping to shape and build the DFL Environmental Caucus has been my passion since the 2014 State DFL Convention.  With your help, we have built a strong, resilient community caucus that is making an impact. 

We inform and empower the voice of all Minnesotans who want to live, work, and raise their family in a safe, nurturing environment. 

We empower the voice of Minnesotans who demand action, not just words, to address the climate emergency that threatens the future of humanity. 

We lift up and empower the voice of the BIPOC community, who bear a disproportionate share of the burden of the impacts of climate change, and all too often live in unsafe, polluted environments. 

We endorse and help elect environmental champions, like Senator McEwen, Kate Knuth, and Jason Chavez, because we know without effective, thoughtful leaders, who use fact based evidence to make informed decisions,  who are connected and invested in their community, without leaders like Jen and Kate and Jason, we all lose.

We write and support resolutions that steer our work, and influence the party.

We form coalitions with other DFL caucuses and environmental groups, who amplify and strengthen our voice.

We have grown in strength and numbers but our work is far from complete. 

We join Honor the Earth, MN350, and over 370 organizations calling on Governor Walz and President Biden to STOP LINE 3.

We join the Native People’s caucus and the Somali caucus to call on the City of MPLS to abandon their plans for the Hiawatha Expansion, and to work with the East Phillips Neighborhood Initiative on their plan for an urban farm.

We join a coalition of environmental and tribal organizations with Friends of the BWCA and over 70 legislators who say, “Prove it First”, prove that it is safe, before you allow toxic sulfide mining in MN.

Help us flip the senate. So all the meaningful work of the House on climate is not lost once again. We cannot allow that to happen. 

Help us push the Governor and President Biden to make good on their pledge to act on climate, to provide a just, equitable transition to an economy based on clean, renewable energy.

Help us continue to grow and build strong alliances with others to “Protect what we love!”

Thank you for the last 7 years. It has been an honor and a privilege to chair this fine group. My life has been greatly enriched by you all. I look forward to supporting the next chair.

-Veda Kanitz