Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) and Rep. John Faso (R-NY) have introduced the Climate Solutions Commission Act along with 10 other members of the Climate Solutions Caucus.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, MAY 4, 2017 – Citizens’ Climate Lobby applauds the first major piece of legislation to emerge from the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus – The Climate Solutions Commission Act, introduced by Rep. John Delaney (D-MD), John Faso (R-NY) and 10 other members of the caucus.
The bill would establish a commission with 10 members – five appointed by Republicans and five appointed by Democrats – to undertake a comprehensive review of economically viable public and private actions or policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The commission would make recommendations to the President, Congress and the states, and use as its goals for emissions reductions the estimated rates of reduction that reflect the latest scientific findings of what is needed to avoid serious health and environmental consequences.
“When the Climate Solutions Caucus was reformed in January, the hope was that they would raise the visibility of the climate issue and work together on legislation that starts the ball rolling toward solving this immense problem,” said Mark Reynolds, Executive Director of CCL. “With the introduction of this bill, we see Republicans and Democrats finding common ground and doing just that.”
Since the start of the 115th Congress, the Climate Solutions Caucus has more than doubled its membership to 38, with equal numbers from both sides of the aisle. Last week, 21 members of the caucus, including four Republicans, sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to keep the U.S. in the Paris climate agreement.
Regarding the Climate Solutions Commission Act, CCL Legislative Director Danny Richter said, “I’m particularly excited about the science-based and open-ended emissions reduction mandate for the commission. It accounts for the fact that we keep emitting greenhouse gases.”
Cosponsors of the bill are Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-NY).
In his press release, Congressman Delaney said, “Climate change is real and the threat it poses is real. It is imperative that we act on climate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in today’s Washington the surest way to do so is to build bipartisan consensus; that’s what this bill does. I am proud to work with Congressman Faso on this bill, which brings both parties together, studies the data and the options and puts forward a workable solution.”
“Creating a bipartisan commission will help bring the public and private sectors together to provide smart solutions to the problems we face in the world today from the negative impacts of climate change,” said Congressman Faso.
The Climate Solutions Commission Act also directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study and report on the financial tools, policies and institutions most successful at reducing greenhouse gas emissions while protecting economic growth and employment.
