Climate Change Bill to Pass Committee by May, Says Waxman

Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) vowed to move a comprehensive climate change bill through the committee by Memorial Day. The bold announcement came as he opened Congress' first hearing on climate change legislation. Waxman did not give specifics on the climate bill he has in mind, but noted that he may pull recommendations from previous cap-and-trade legislation and the U.S. Climate Action Partnership Blueprint Proposal, which was released yesterday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) both released statements supporting Waxman's comment. Pelosi's comment struck a different note than what she said last week: "I'm not sure [climate change legislation will pass] this year, because I don't know if we'll be ready."