Climate Legislation on Capitol Hill
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Am Clean Energy & Sec Act
The Latest on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, January 14, 2010 - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid insisted today that the mid-term elections would not derail plans for springtime passage of a sweeping energy and climate bill in the chamber. "We have a lot on our plate... but we are not so busy that we can't find time to address comprehensive energy and climate legislation." The lead Senate climate bill authors -- Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joe Liebermann (I-CT) -- plan daily meetings on their legislation once they return to Washington after the winter recess.
Senate Climate ActionClean Energy Jobs & American Power Act
Bill IntroductionBill as Introduced
Chairman's Mark Version
Analysis
StatementsComing soon... TestimonyTuesday, October 27, 2009 9:30 AM EPW Hearing Room – 406 Dirksen Witnesses: Panel 1
Panel 2
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 9:30 AM EPW Hearing Room – 406 Dirksen Witnesses: Panel 1: Jobs and Economic Opportunities
Panel 2: National Security
Panel 3: Utilities
Panel 4: Adaptation
Thursday, October 29, 2009 Panel 1: Moving to a Clean Energy Economy
Panel 2: Transportation
Panel 3: Actions in Other Countries
Panel 4: Moving to a Clean Energy Economy
Key DevelopmentsSenate Committee Passes Climate BillWASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 - The Clean Energy Jobs bill advanced through a key committee in early November 2009. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed their version of the bill by 11-to-1, despite a boycott of the vote by the panel's Republicans. The bill will now be merged with legislation being written by five other Senate panels. Read more Senate Hearings Kick Off Climate Bill DebateWASHINGTON, October 27 - With Democrats and Republicans deeply divided about the need for and cost of curbing climate changing pollution and pursuing an energy economy that tilted away from dirty and expensive fossil fuels, the United States Senate today launched a potentially far-reaching debate on legislation designed to secure the environment and propel a new industrial chapter for the American economy. Read more Obama Expresses Support for Strong Climate Change LegislationBOSTON, October 23 - Speaking Friday at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, President Barack Obama expressed his strong support for legislation to control climate change by limiting greenhouse gas emissions (Watch video). Obama said he is looking to Congress to pass "comprehensive legislation that will finally make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy in America." Read his full remarks Boxer, Kerry Restart Climate, Energy Debate With New Senate BillWASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts today introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, a proposal that calls for reducing carbon emissions 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by mid-century. Read more Sign-On Letters
House Climate Action: American Clean Energy and Security Act
AnalysisSummaries:
Fact Sheets
StatementsComing soon... Sign-On Letters
Climate Legislation Issue Areas
Environment Organization Statements
CARE Welcomes Committee Action on Senate Climate BillPress release from CARE on November 5, 2009 with Vice President for Policy and Advocacy JoDee Winterhof's reaction to Senate EPW Committee passing S. 1733.
The Nature Conservancy Reacts to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Passage of Clean Energy Jobs and American Power ActPress release from The Nature Conservancy on November 5, 2009. Statements by TNC Director of US Climate Policy, Eric Haxthausen on Senate EPW Committee passage of S. 1733.
Friends of the Earth Statement on Climate Bill Action in Senate Environment and Public Works CommitteePress release from Friends of the Earth, with comments by FOE President Erich Pica, on the passage of S. 1733 in Senate EPW Committee on November 5, 2009.
Statement by Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp on Committee Passage of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power ActPress release from EDF on November 5, 2009 with statement on the Senate EPW passage of S. 1733.
UCS Reacts to Senate Environment and Public Works Passage of Clean Energy Jobs and American Power ActPress release from UCS on November 5, 2009 in support of Senate EPW Committee passage of S. 1733, with comments from Lexi Schultz, climate policy analyst in UCS's Climate and Energy Program.
Oxfam Reacts to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Passage of Clean Energy Jobs and American Power ActPress release from Oxfam America on November 5, 2009 with statements from Raymond Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America, with reaction to S. 1733 passing the Senate EPW Committee.
CCAP Reacts to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Passage of Clean Energy Jobs and American Power ActPress release from the Center for Clean Air Policy on Senate EPW Committee passage of S. 1733 with comments from CCAP President, Ned Helme.
TWS Reacts to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Passage of Clean Energy Jobs and American Power ActPress release from The Wilderness Society in reaction to Senate EPW committee passing S. 1733, with statements from David Moulton, Director of Climate Policy and Conservation Founding at TWS. Document Actions |
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As early as January 20, we expect Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) to offer an amendment that would limit action on climate change. Exactly what the amendment will do is still under debate but two possibilities include blocking the EPA's ability under the Clean Air Act to limit emissions from big polluters and offering the entire Kerry-Boxer climate bill as an attempt to show that it does not have the support of 60 senators. 
Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer (CA) and John Kerry (MA) introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act on September 30, 2009, 821-page legislation aimed to reduce carbon emissions 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by mid-century. President Obama hailed the Senate proposal, saying his administration is "deeply committed to passing a bill that creates new American jobs and the clean energy incentives that foster innovation." The bill includes significant public investment in clean energy research, as well as provisions to generate electricity from natural gas and nuclear power and support carbon capture and storage research (
The House of Representatives passed a sweeping climate and energy bill on June 26, 2009, the first time a U.S. chamber of Congress has passed a bill that sets mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The American Clean Energy & Security Act passed the House with a vote of 219-212; 211 Democrats and 8 Republicans supported the bill. In his weekly address a day after the vote, President Obama said the legislation was "historic" and would "open the door to a clean energy economy and a better future for America." The bill sets mandatory caps on 87 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. It would require 17 percent emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2020, and 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. 
