WASHINGTON, D.C. — The introduction of the Climate Action Now Act offers an opportunity for lawmakers to focus on the global nature of climate change and rise to meet this problem at a time when communities are struggling to recover from climate-fueled disasters. 

“Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. It is fueling catastrophic megafires and severe weather and displacing human communities and wildlife alike. The introduction of the Climate Action Now Act is an important development at a time when Congress is focused on partisan gamesmanship and procedural maneuvers,” said Claudia Malloy, associate vice president for campaigns at the National Wildlife Federation. “We need solutions on par with the challenges we face, and this legislation offers a common-sense path forward while also affirming our global commitments to act on climate.

“Thank you to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House leaders for taking seriously not only the threats climate change poses to all Americans, but also the need for solutions.”

The new legislation, introduced as H.R. 9, would prevent the federal government from using any taxpayer resources to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. It also would require that the executive branch produce a plan within a year to meet our commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The bill’s unveiling also follows a day after the U.S. Senate engaged in “partisan gamesmanship” around a climate resolution. National Wildlife Federation President and CEO Collin O’Mara called out lawmakers and urged them to “find common ground and forge bipartisan solutions.”