Elected Officials to Protect America

10/21/2026

🐋 Under a new reading of the Endangered Species Act, killing a protected animal “incidentally” is illegal only if it was intentional. For North Atlantic right whales, whose main threats are ship strikes and net entanglements, that could be devastating.

“This is a unilateral move by the executive branch to basically undo one of Congress’s most successful acts,” said Jim Murphy of the National Wildlife Federation.

It’s not only whales. Oil and gas drilling and mining can now proceed with less regard for endangered species, including the Canadian lynx, the northern long-eared bat, and the leatherback sea turtle in Maine.

The National Wildlife Federation and a coalition of state attorneys general are now challenging the change in court. 🌊

🔗 Read the story now: https://protectearth.news/whales-at-risk-as-incidental-lillings-of-new-englands-endangered-speices-declared-no-longer-illegal/

North Atlantic right whales were hunted to near extinction prior to being listed as an endangered species in 1970. The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium estimated the 2024 population at 384, up…

09/04/2026

📣 Welcoming Kawaipuna Kalipi Kalipi Kalipi to our Public Leadership Certificate Cohort 2026!

He k**a kēia o nā ʻāina aloha o Molokaʻi. With a strong foundation in community and ʻike Hawaiʻi, Puna is a proud graduate of Pūnana Leo o Molokai, Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu, and Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Hawaiian Studies and Psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science. As Director of Development, Acquisitions, and Strategy at Molokai Heritage Trust, Puna helps advance the mission to buy back and collectively steward approximately 55,000 acres of Molokaʻi lands—an effort envisioned as Hawaiʻi’s largest initiative in returning lands to Indigenous management and governance. Her leadership centers ʻāina, kānaka, community voice, and the protection of what makes Molokaʻi, Molokaʻi.

✍🏼 Learn more about the program at www.protectingamerica.net

09/04/2026

📰 In the news: In Washington, Nigerian actress Yetide Badaki warns fossil fuel policies 'hike costs' and worsen conflict

Protecting America means protecting our energy security.

That was the message in Washington, D.C., as elected officials, veterans, national security advocates, and actress Yetide Badaki came together to address a vulnerability we can no longer afford to ignore: America’s dependence on fossil fuels and the geopolitical instability that comes with it.

For elected officials, this is bigger than an environmental debate. It is a question of national security.

“Policies that double down on fossil fuels do not save money. They hike costs, trash our public health, and destabilize nations," says Badaki.

And the impact isn’t abstract. As she noted, everyday people feel it “at the pump, on their utility bills and in the air that they breathe.”

Our elected leaders have a responsibility to protect the country. Not just from threats on the battlefield, but from vulnerabilities that can destabilize our economy, compromise our energy independence, and put American families at risk.

That means building a stronger, more resilient energy system, one that reduces our exposure to volatile global markets and hostile regimes while keeping power affordable and reliable.

As Alex Cornell du Houx, President and Co-Founder of Elected Officials to Protect America, put it: “Distributed clean energy is secure, costs less, and creates prosperity.”

Energy security is national security. And the decisions elected officials make today will determine how secure, resilient, and prosperous America is tomorrow.

Thank you to The Cool Down for sharing this story! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gBSaEHPm

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08/18/2026

📣 Welcoming Senator Kenya W. to our Public Leadership Certificate Cohort 2026!

Kenya Wicks is a Louisville, Kentucky native, dedicated public servant, retired U.S. Army Major, and current Georgia State Senator representing District 34, which includes Clayton and Fayette Counties. Over the course of her 30-year military career, she rose from enlisted soldier to officer, earning a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Alabama and graduating from Officer Candidate School in 2008. Her service was defined by leadership, resilience, and a deep commitment to the country.

✍🏼 Learn more about the program at www.protectingamerica.net

08/17/2026

📣 Welcoming Dr. Nazar Kholod to our Public Leadership Certificate Cohort 2026!

Dr. Nazar Kholod is an international development and policy professional with 10+ years of experience supporting and managing U.S. Government–funded technical assistance and multi-partner initiatives. Dr. Kholod has successfully implemented projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He is experienced in developing scoping documents and work plans, tracking budgets, collecting monitoring and evaluation information, and convening diverse stakeholders to implement complex projects.

✍🏼 Learn more about the program at www.protectingamerica.net

08/17/2026

📣 Welcoming Olivia Peay to our Public Leadership Certificate Cohort 2026!

Olivia Peay is an impact-driven storyteller, photographer, and creative strategist. She received her B.A. in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach, with a focus on organizational management and visual identity. She is on the Steering Committee for LA Climate Week, an annual climate celebration in Los Angeles honoring community-first programs and nature-based solutions, and collaborates with nonprofit organizations to interview storytellers, musicians, and grassroots leaders. Olivia is a photographer of 8+ years, capturing photographs of diplomats, musicians, authors, wild grizzly bears, and global media icons. As an EOPA Solon Fellow, Olivia is focused on strengthening media communications and advancing environmental awareness.

✍🏼 Learn more about the program at www.protectingamerica.net

08/17/2026

📣 Welcoming Paul Foster to our Public Leadership Certificate Cohort 2026!

Paul Foster was elected as a UK Member of Parliament for South Ribble in 2024. He was the Local Government Council Leader from 2019 to 2024. Foster is the Co-Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces. Prior to being elected to Parliament, he was an owner and Director of a Project Management Consultancy in the social housing and student accommodation /renewable energy sectors. Foster served in the British Army Corps of Royal Engineers from 1988-2003, with operational service in Iraq in 1990, Kosovo in 1999 & 2000, and Afghanistan in 2003.

✍🏼 Learn more about the program at www.protectingamerica.net

08/17/2026

📣 Welcoming Ron Pierce to our Public Leadership Certificate Cohort 2026!

Ron Pierce is a West Point graduate, combat veteran, retired U.S. Army Major, and PMP-certified program management leader. He previously served as Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, where he helped increase small business contracting awards from $8 billion to $12 billion. Ron holds a Master of International Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School and is currently a Senior Business Advisor at Architecture and Engineering serving the Pacific Region in Honolulu, Hawai’i (AEPAC).

✍🏼 Learn more about the program at www.protectingamerica.net

08/17/2026

📣 Welcoming Dr. Selin Yıldız Nielsen to our Public Leadership Cohort 2026!

Dr. Selin Yildiz Nielsen is a scholar-practitioner specializing in climate resilience, renewable energy, migration, and community engagement. She leads stakeholder engagement and communications for California offshore wind initiatives and is the founder and president of the Human Migration Institute, supporting refugee and newcomer communities. A faculty member at the University of California, Riverside, her work brings together policymakers, Tribal nations, labor, educators, and communities to advance collaborative solutions to climate and social challenges.

✍🏼 Learn more about the program at www.protectingamerica.net

08/17/2026

📣 Welcoming Shelly Burgoyne to our Public Leadership Certificate Cohort 2026!

Shelly B. is a Combat Veteran, Operation Iraqi Freedom I and III, Former Army Transportation Officer, Tillman Scholar, and Military Spouse. Shelly holds a Master’s from the University of Maryland and George Washington University. She is also the Southern Arizona Director of VetsForward, which equips and mobilizes America’s military veterans to defend the values that make our democracy strong.

✍🏼 Learn more about the program at www.protectingamerica.net