FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement on bipartisan climate talks & reconciliation
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 9, 2022 – Citizens’ Climate Lobby strongly believes that the impacts of climate change on our communities, the need to provide affordable low carbon energy to American households, and the need to keep American business competitive in a global marketplace demands action from Congress now.
A group of Senators have recently begun talks to see if some bipartisan agreement on climate and energy can be reached. We are encouraged by these efforts. Action on climate and clean energy must advance regardless of which party holds the majority in Congress. This attempt is a clear sign that these Senators understand this, and CCL hopes that they will be successful. We hope these talks will produce a bill that builds on the legislative success of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and can be a foundation for continued cooperation on climate.
However, the urgent need for action on climate demands that this cannot be the only effort by Congress. For many months, the Democratic majority has pursued a reconciliation package that includes the strongest climate and clean energy provisions the U.S. Congress has ever considered. Work on the reconciliation package should continue and be signed into law. CCL strongly believes the climate goals laid out by the Administration to reduce emissions 50% by 2030 must be met, and Congressional Democrats should not back away from this target.
These efforts should be viewed as complementary rather than mutually exclusive. CCL strongly urges Congress to pursue the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda achievable this Congress.
CONTACT: Flannery Winchester, CCL Senior Director of Communications, 615-337-3642, flannery @ citizensclimate.org