Washington, D.C. - United States Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined more than a dozen Members of Congress to introduce first-of-its-kind House legislation to fight global warming. The bill would set a nationwide standard for heat-trapping pollution responsible for global warming, while creating a market-based system encouraging maximum technological innovation and profitable opportunities for companies to cut emissions.
Republican and Democratic House Members sponsoring the Climate Stewardship Act stood together in the Capitol today alongside Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT), who crafted a companion measure that came within seven votes of passing the Senate last October. Another vote is expected soon. In addition to Van Hollen, principal house sponsors are Representatives Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), John Olver (D-MA), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Jay Inslee (D-WA).
“It is important that we act now to prevent the harmful effects of global warming,” Van Hollen. “We can do well by our economy while doing right by our environment. It cannot be either/or. It must be both. That’s what this legislation offers.”
The new measure saves money and encourages innovation through a flexible trading mechanism, allowing companies achieving or exceeding their caps to bank or sell emission credits. Companies would also be able to acquire credits from a variety of sources if they so choose to meet their required caps.
Scientists say global warming is caused mainly by carbon dioxide emitted from the burning of fossil fuels.
These emissions cause a heat-trapping blanket to form in the atmosphere, raising temperatures and threatening our health, our economy and the environment. Experts, including the National Academy of Sciences and many others, say today’s unprecedented warming trend simply cannot be explained by natural forces alone.
The ten hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990 – 19 of the top 20 occurred since 1980. Since 1979, the ice cap covering the North Pole has withered by 20 percent. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continues to climb. Last week, scientists reported that the pace of carbon dioxide build-up during the last year was twice the average rate for the last decade.
“Political leaders from both parties are realizing the threat global warming poses to our health, our economy, and our environment. Now they’re taking reasonable steps to fight this problem,” said David G. Hawkins, Climate Center Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council,” “Congressman Van Hollen and the other sponsors of this bill understand that American progress can defeat our most difficult challenges.”
Original cosponsors are Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Dianna DeGette (D-CO), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Harold Ford Jr. (D-TN), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), James Greenwood (R-PA), Amo Houhgton (R-NY), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Zoe Lofrgren (D-CA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), John Olver (D-MA), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Rob Simmons (R-CT), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Mark Udall (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Henry Waxman (D-CA) and James Walsh (R-NY).