“Bipartisan Legislation Could Break Senate Logjam on Global Warming”
Statement by Larry Schweiger, National Wildlife Federation President & CEO
Published October 18, 2007
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The letter sent to Senator Warner and Senator Lieberman from organizations representing millions of hunters and anglers. |
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On introduction of the America’s Climate Security Act of 2007
by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA).
The Senators are the chairman and ranking Republican, respectively, on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection.
Washington, DC (October 18) “This is a bipartisan breakthrough on global warming that takes us a giant step closer to a historic vote in the United States Senate. I commend Senator Lieberman and Senator Warner for drafting a strong bill to protect people and wildlife from global warming. And I commend Senator Dole (R-NC) for cosponsoring the legislation and adding her support to the call for action after a careful and thoughtful review of the issues. The prospects for Congress passing legislation with real solutions to global warming are getting better day by day.
“This legislation comes just in time. We need bipartisan leadership to break the logjam in Congress and force action on global warming. The clock is ticking on the single greatest threat to the future of wildlife, and too many members of Congress have been fast asleep.
“The defining issue of the 21st century is whether or not we will muster the political will to confront global warming. Senators Warner and Lieberman have shown us that confronting global warming is not an issue of left or right; it is an issue of right or wrong.
“As this bill moves to the Senate floor, it will mark the first head-on Senate debate about what is really needed to tackle global warming. While there have been other votes in 2003 and 2005 on Senate global warming bills, they were focused on first steps to get started. Meanwhile, report after report from the scientific community has made clear that we have run out of time.
“Senator Boxer (D-CA), chair of the full Environment Committee, has been a tireless advocate for action and I thank her for her leadership to advance this issue. And we applaud Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) for expressing his desire to move bipartisan legislation reported from the committee to a full Senate debate and vote.
“Of critical importance to National Wildlife Federation, this bill will reduce U.S. global warming pollution by approximately two percent every year from major emitters in the coming decades. It provides significant funding to implement federal, state and tribal strategies that help wildlife survive the climate changes that can no longer be avoided. And it provides needed protections for low- and moderate-income families.
“Even though we are encouraged by this bill and the prospects for action, we should not lose sight of the need for swift action on the energy bill, which can provide a strong down payment on global warming action. Congress needs to quickly deliver the energy bill to the president’s desk with fuel economy improvements for cars and with renewable electricity standards.”
The National Wildlife Federation is America’s conservation organization inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.
Immediate Release
October 18, 2007
Jeremy Symons, Executive Director, National Wildlife Federation Global Warming Program, 202-939-3311, symons@nwf.org
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