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Climate Solutions Caucus welcomes 5 new members

Deutch and Curbelo

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) are co-chairs of the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus.

Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus welcomes 5 new members, now at 78

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 18, 2018 — Continuing to expand its membership toward the critical mass needed to enact climate legislation, the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus this week welcomed five new members — Representatives Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Peter Roskam (R-IL), and Ron Kind (D-WI).

The caucus now has 78 members, evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.

“Citizens’ Climate Lobby is thrilled to see the caucus continue to grow, even in a hyper-partisan election year,” said CCL Executive Director Mark Reynolds. “These courageous House members are helping to depoliticize the climate issue, which is a prerequisite for passing bipartisan legislation.”

Rep. Paulsen fills the Republican slot that opened when Rep. Pat Meehan (R-PA) recently resigned. Paulsen, an avid skier, met with several Winter Olympians last month, including Minnesota cross-country gold medalist Jessie Diggins. Diggins and the other athletes shared their concern that climate change is making it difficult to participate and compete in winter sports, and she urged Paulsen to join the Climate Solutions Caucus.

In a press release, caucus co-chair Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) said, “We have a responsibility to our constituents and future generations to present a united front to combat anti-climate policies and to have a productive, fact-based dialogue about market-oriented solutions, investments, and innovations that could mitigate the effects of climate change and make our nation more resilient. I’m grateful these new members are willing to step up and turn their concern into action by joining and welcome their valuable input.”

Curbelo’s Democratic counterpart, Rep. Ted Deutch, added, “The growth in size and regional diversity of this caucus is a reflection of the broad consensus among Americans that climate change is an urgent issue that demands action by Congress. As we gear up for hurricane season, I welcome this bipartisan support from my colleagues for the Caucus’ efforts to address the growing threats of climate change.”

New Jersey’s MacArthur said, “My district is home to the heart of the Jersey Shore, Barnegat Bay, the Pine Barrens and the Delaware River. Climate change and other environmental issues directly impact our area and our South Jersey economy. I am proud to join the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus to find practical solutions to the environmental challenges we face.”

Democrat Engel from New York said, “Climate change should never have become a partisan issue, even though many in Congress have treated it that way. It’s a global issue that affects every one of us in a very real, consequential way. As such, Democrats and Republicans must come together to find real world solutions to the growing crisis, and one avenue for that type of bipartisan work is the Climate Solutions Caucus.”

CONTACT: Steve Valk, steve @ citizensclimate.org, 404-769-7461

Steve Valk is Communications Coordinator for Citizens' Climate Lobby. Steve joined the CCL staff in 2009 after a 30-year career with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter at @valklimate.