FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCT. 29, 2015 – Citizens’ Climate Lobby today applauded a group of Republicans in the Senate who will work on environment and energy policy, viewing it as a breakthrough that can lead to legislative solutions on climate change.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) said the GOP working group would “pursue common sense and market-based reforms to grow our economy, and promote cleaner energy production.”
In a press release, Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) announced the “formation of a Senate Energy and Environment Working Group that will focus on ways we can protect our environment and climate while also bolstering clean energy innovation that helps drive job creation.”
In addition to Ayotte, other members of the working group are Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN).
The announcement of the Senate working group comes a little more than a month after 11 Republicans in the House of Representatives, led by Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY), introduced a resolution about the impact of climate change and calling on the House to work on solutions.
“With the Gibson resolution in the House and now the working group in the Senate, we’re seeing that Republicans want a seat at the table on climate solutions,” said CCL Executive Director Mark Reynolds. “The conservative approach they can bring to the discussion is a fee on carbon with revenue returned to households.”
This approach, known as Carbon Fee and Dividend, has been championed by George Shultz, former Secretary of State under President Reagan. Shultz calls it an “insurance policy” against climate change.
“We appreciate the leadership these senators are displaying in taking their caucus in a positive direction,” said Reynolds. “Climate change is too big a problem for one party to solve, and today’s announcement is big step toward bringing all sides together for the most effective and efficient solution. Our volunteers will be on Capitol Hill in November visiting congressional offices to continue the work of bridging the partisan divide on this issue.”
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