Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)
By Flannery Winchester
Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) have formed a bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the Senate. The news originally broke last month, and today the group has officially launched with a joint op-ed from the lawmakers.
The senators’ op-ed, which was published today in The Hill, describes the caucus as “a bipartisan group of senators who, like the Americans we serve, believe Congress should play a central role in guiding America’s 21st century energy economy and addressing the challenge of a changing climate. Our caucus seeks to take the politics out of this important issue.”
This is a major milestone: the group will be the only dedicated space for bipartisan climate discussions in the Senate. Both Senate offices will be inviting select colleagues to join the group in Republican and Democratic pairs, maintaining bipartisan parity. This structure complements the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House, which was originally formed in 2016 and has enjoyed impressive growth since then.
Americans want this to happen
“As we travel across Delaware and Indiana, we consistently hear concerns that our climate is changing and our constituents are looking for Congress to step up and take action,” the senators said.
A recent Ipsos survey found that 77% of young Republican voters call climate change a “serious threat.” In Senator Braun’s own state of Indiana, 64% of Hoosiers know climate change is happening, and 74% of Hoosiers want to see CO2 regulated as a pollutant, according to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communications.
By forming this bipartisan caucus, Senators Braun and Coons are clearly listening to their constituents and taking concrete, positive action in response.
Bipartisanship is key
“Most Americans want Republicans and Democrats to work together on solving climate change, and Senators Braun and Coons are leading the way with the creation of this bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus,” CCL’s Executive Director Mark Reynolds said. 80% of all American voters say it’s important for any national climate solution to be bipartisan.
“This caucus will serve as an incubator where productive dialogue can lead to strong bipartisan climate legislation,” Mark added. “For any climate solution to be enacted and upheld, it has to have buy-in from both sides of the aisle.”
The senators themselves agree, saying, “We recognize the simple reality that climate policy is too serious to ram through Congress on a partisan basis. Republicans and Democrats have to work together, compromise, and find common ground.”
What you can do
CCL is grateful to these senators for their leadership and their bipartisan approach on this issue. Are you ready to show your support?
- Learn more about the new Senate Climate Solutions Caucus and the existing House Climate Solutions Caucus
- Share this exciting news on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
- Tweet your thanks to Senators Braun and Coons for their bipartisan climate leadership
