New Senate Bill Advances Global Warming Issue
Senators Lieberman and Warner Act to Fund Global Warming Solutions
WASHINGTON, DC-Today, Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and John Warner (R-Va.) introduced America’s Climate Security Act of 2007, a bill to reduce global warming pollution and announced their intention to seek the first vote on a global warming bill in the Senate Environment Committee.
“This is a huge shift in Congress' center of gravity on global warming. With cosponsors from Senator Dole to Senator Harkin, this bill really marks the start of serious efforts in both parties to grapple with the issue,” said Philip Clapp, President of the National Environmental Trust. “It needs improvements, but the bill takes the debate where it needs to go: away from the President's voluntary approach which is rightly consigned to the history books. Congress is now working to come up with a mandatory, market-based way to cut carbon pollution.”
America’s Climate Security Act of 2007 would reduce greenhouse gases from the largest sources by 15% by 2020 and 70% by 2050. The bill establishes a greenhouse gas emissions cap that covers electric utilities, manufacturing sources, and transportation. It also contains provisions for strengthening energy efficiency standards for appliances and buildings. Fully implemented, it has the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than half by mid-century.
“When you look at the Senators supporting the Climate Security Act, it shows Congress is serious about enacting global warming legislation,” said Don Richardson, Director of the Arkansas Climate Awareness Project. ”Our Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor should do their part. The first step is to finish the Energy Bill and the next step is to pass comprehensive climate legislation like that introduced today.”
Co-sponsors of the bill include: Senators Benjamin Cardin (D- Md.), Norm Coleman (R-Mn.), Susan Collins (R-Me.), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC.), and Tom Harkin (D-Ia.).
Arkansas Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor have both voted for the Sense of the Senate Resolution on Climate Change. Meanwhile, Senator Lincoln is a co-sponsor of the Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act. Senator Lincoln is also on the Committee for Energy and Natural Resources.
A hearing on the bill is scheduled for October 24th. The first votes on global warming in the Senate Environment committee are expected to follow in November.