My name is (name). I’m a constituent of (name of Senator) from (your town and state).

I am calling to implore the Senator to call on his colleagues to resist any nominations put forth by Donald Trump to serve as Commissioner on FERC.

FERC his a demonstrated history of abusing communities and misusing the law when it comes to reviewing and approving natural gas infrastructure like pipelines, compressors and LNG facilities.

Before any new commissioners are appointed to FERC, and the agency’s quorum reestablished, I want Senator X to call for congressional hearings into FERC’s well documented and routine abuses that are harming communities and the climate, stripping people of their legal rights, undermining the legal authority of states, and allowing FERC employees and commissioners to personally benefit from the work they do at the agency.

My name is (name). I am a resident of the United States who is concerned about FERC’s abuses of power and law when it comes to reviewing and approving pipeline infrastructure projects and LNG export facilities.

I am calling Senator X because he serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee that will be holding hearings on Donald Trump’s nominations for FERC Commissioners.

FERC his a demonstrated history of abusing communities and misusing the law when it comes to reviewing and approving natural gas infrastructure projects.

I am urging Senator X to use his position on the Committee to oppose confirmation of any new Commissioners to FERC, until such time as Congress has held hearings and investigated FERC’s well documented and routine abuses that are harming communities and the climate, stripping people of their legal rights, undermining the legal authority of states, and allowing FERC employees and commissioners to personally benefit from the work they do at the agency.

FERC routinely uses a legal loophole that strips people of their legal right to challenge a pipeline project in court before FERC allows the company to use the power of eminent domain to take property and to actually start constructing activities for their pipelines.

FERC routinely undermines states rights and legal authority when it comes to pipeline reviews.

It has been documented that FERC has a revolving door between agency staff and the gas industry.

FERC Commissioners are known to approve pipeline projects that benefit themselves and their family.

FERC is known to use consultants in its pipeline process that are working for the very companies they are supposed to be reviewing on behalf of FERC.

Can you tell me where the Senator stands on FERC commissioner appointments at this time? (Respond appropriately by saying thank you or by reiterating the need to vote no. The staffer may mention that Trump has not nominated anyone yet. Be sure to indicate that this isn’t only about who the nominees are. Be clear that until legislation is put forward to replace FERC, you demand that the senator vote no on all appointments, and that FERC lacking a quorum is a good thing).

Can I suggest questions for the senator to ask the FERC nominees during the confirmation hearing? (If yes, ask how to get these questions to the senator, but try to relay them over the phone. If no, relay the questions you’d like your senator to ask anyway, and demand that they be asked. Click here for sample questions)

Would the Senator support legislation to replace FERC with an agency dedicated to a just transition off fossil fuels? (If yes, ask what the senator will do to make such legislation a reality. If no, tell the senator that you can’t support candidates who don’t stand with you, your community, or the planet, and that unless the senator shapes up, you will join the effort to vote them out.)