Key House Democrat Commits to Comprehensive Climate Change Action Next Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Tony Kreindler, Environmental Defense, 202-572-3378 (work) or 202-210-5791 (cell)
(Washington – December 6, 2007) Environmental Defense today applauded House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher for his commitment to pursue mandatory, economy-wide climate change legislation in 2008.
 
“With a landmark vote in the Senate yesterday and renewed commitments to action in the House, we have a real chance of tackling the global warming problem in this Congress,” said Steve Cochran, national climate campaign director at Environmental Defense. “Chairman Boucher is a thoughtful leader who chooses his words carefully, so we take this statement today as a very optimistic sign.”  
 
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee yesterday approved the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, which would put a mandatory, economy-wide cap on emissions. The bill could reach the Senate floor early next year.
 
Boucher said this afternoon that the House next year will pursue “a mandatory approach to controlling greenhouse gas emissions” that is economy-wide. Boucher chairs the subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee with jurisdiction over climate change legislation.
 
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