In March 2024, the Policy Committee of the U.S. Youth Action Council for the UN Ocean Decade organized an in-person Hill Days event in Washington, D.C., where 19 youth advocates led 71 meetings over the course of two days to push for critical ocean and water protection policies. This event brought together passionate youth from across the U.S. to engage directly with their lawmakers, advocating for five key bills that are vital to safeguarding our oceans and coastal ecosystems.
The policy topics included:
H.R. 1483: End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act of 2023, which aims to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuel companies and reinvest in sustainable alternatives.
H.R. 3873 and S. 1806: Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2023, designed to promote innovation and support regional ocean economies.
H.R. 2950 and S. 1381: Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2023, which seeks to preserve and protect vital coastal habitats from degradation.
S. 643: Farm Fresh Food for Families Act of 2023, which addresses the intersection of sustainable agriculture and healthy communities.
H.R. 1441: Offshore Pipeline Safety Act, a bill focused on enhancing safety regulations for offshore pipelines to prevent environmental disasters.
This impactful event demonstrated the power of youth voices in shaping policy decisions and highlighted the importance of direct advocacy in securing a healthier, more sustainable future for our oceans.
“Attending the Hill Days was empowering because I was able to discuss such important issues with the people responsible for making the policies that impact all of us. This experience reinforced my belief that real, tangible change can happen through policy. Now, more than ever, I want to see as many youth as possible get involved in policy work. I believe more Hill Days are needed to ensure that youth engagement with policymakers becomes a priority, helping them understand their responsibility to the youth and their communities.
Throughout this experience, I gained valuable skills such as policy analysis, advocacy, lobbying, research, and communication with Congress. I also learned how to schedule meetings with lawmakers and navigate the legislative process. The most memorable part of this experience was the time spent with fellow youth discussing the future we want and how to make it a reality. This was followed by a conversation with Senator Alex Padilla’s office about how we can collaborate with indigenous communities to rehabilitate soils in California.” – Latifah Nansubuga, 21, 3rd, 4th & 5th Cohort Member U.S. YAC UNOD
“It was incredibly meaningful to be able to speak with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in 2024 with the US YAC UNOD. While we learned a tremendous amount about how to advocate for bills with members of Congress who agree and disagree with our values, I found the experience even more valuable as I had the opportunity to meet the other youth in the YAC in-person as well. With their guidance and experience, I grew as a leader, public speaker, lobbyist, and changemaker. It was so heartening to hear directly from a staffer a couple of weeks ago that Senator Alex Padilla had decided to co-sponsor one of the bills that we advocated for. Representing youth voices is so critical; we are the future and we deserved to be heard!” – Colin Chu, 17, 4th & 5th Cohort Member U.S. YAC UNOD
“Leading the petition and participating in the Instagram Live press conference at Hill Days 2024 was both exhilarating and empowering. Standing up for eco-justice—a cause I’m deeply passionate about—in front of a large online audience was a powerful experience. I felt a strong sense of responsibility, knowing I represented the voices of many young people who share our vision for decarbonization, decolonization, and democratization. Seeing over 500 signatories come together underscored the strength of collaboration and showed that our voices resonate even more powerfully when united. I hope our advocacy demonstrated to lawmakers that youth are essential stakeholders in policy decisions, especially those shaping our future. We also developed crucial skills in public speaking, digital engagement, and strategic organizing, strengthening our approach to driving meaningful change.” – Zoë Tucker-Borrut, 25, 4th Cohort Member & 5th Cohort Support Team Intern U.S. YAC UNOD
