New Dems Endorse Slate of Bills to Combat Climate Change
WASHINGTON – The New Democrat Coalition on Wednesday endorsed its first slate of bills in the 117th Congress to confront the existential threat of climate change, building on the Coalition’s work to advance an ambitious and actionable policy agenda to attain net-zero emissions by 2050.
As the House continues to develop legislation in response to the President’s American Jobs Plan, the coalition said it will push for durable policy solutions that leverage every technology and solution available to curb emissions and position the U.S. as the global leader in the climate-forward economy.
As part of this slate, the coalition endorsed eleven bills, including ten it previously endorsed in the 116th Congress:
- H.R. 425, To Amend the Energy Independence Security Act of 2007 and to Reauthorize the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program, Reps. Greg Stanton & Marc Veasey
- H.R. 2656, the National Green Bank Act, Rep. Jim Himes
- H.R. 3200, the Community Energy Savings Program Act, Rep. Annie Kuster
- H.R. 2818, the Mitigate Methane Now Act, Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Lisa Blunt Rochester
- H.R. 2791, the Renewable Energy for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Act, Rep. Ted Lieu and Del. Stacey Plaskett
- H.R. 2570, the Climate Risk Disclosure Act, Rep. Sean Casten
- H.Res. 295, The Resolution on the Environmental Goods Agreement, Rep. Suzan DelBene
- H.R. 1733, the RECLAIM Act of 2021, Rep. Matt Cartwright
- The Green Neighborhoods Act, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (pending reintroduction, 116th H.R. 8021)
- H.R. 3892, the National Ocean and Coastal Security Improvements Act, Rep. Don Beyer
- H.J.Res.34, Congressional Disapproval Resolution to Restore Obama-era Methane Rules, Reps. Diane DeGette, Scott Peters, and Conor Lamb
“Urgent, bold action is essential to curb the worst effects of the climate crisis. The bills New Dems endorsed today will put our country on track to tackle climate change while moving us towards a more sustainable, forward-thinking economy,” said NDC Vice Chair for Policy Scott Peters, of California.
“Measures that reduce dangerous emissions, like the resolution I helped introduce to restore Obama-era rules to cut methane emissions, are especially key if we are to accomplish net-zero emissions by 2050. We need to embrace solutions that position the U.S. as a leader on these issues and prepare our markets to compete globally,” he added.
Rep. Sean Casten, of Illinois, a co-chair of the coalition’s Climate Change Task Force, said “passing common-sense, market-based solutions to safeguard our financial system against climate change has been a top priority since my first day in Congress.”
“By harnessing the power of free markets, we can speed up the transition to cleaner, cheaper energy and create jobs. Climate action is a win, win, win and … I’m proud to support these crucial pieces of legislation,” he added.
Rep. Susan Wild, of Pennsylvania, the other co-chair of the Climate Change Task Force, said the bills the coalition is endorsing “are not just commonsense, they are urgently necessary.”
“From restoring a strong standard for methane emissions, to improving energy efficiency standards in housing, these bills directly address the climate crisis while advancing pro-market policy solutions that reinforce American leadership in combatting climate change,” Wild said.
Earlier this year, the NDC relaunched its Climate Change Task Force, building on the coalition’s First 100 Day Agenda priority to modernize our infrastructure, combat climate change, and create jobs.
Through the Task Force, the NDC continues to develop and advance sustainable policy solutions to tackle climate change, build our clean energy future, and invest in our nation’s preparedness and resilience.
