The Climate Crisis
Democrats strongly believe in our responsibility to address the climate crisis head-on and to serve as stewards of our environment and public lands for current and future generations. Democrats are working with President Biden to restore protections for our environment and natural resources, promote cleaner air and water, and ensure America is a leader in confronting the climate crisis. During the 117th Congress, House Democrats delivered a historic slate of legislation to address the climate crisis. These include the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted in November 2021, a generational infrastructure package that is estimated to create nearly 1.5 million jobs annually throughout the next decade, turbocharge our clean energy economy, and take action on environmental justice and legacy pollution initiatives. The landmark Inflation Reduction Act is America’s single-largest investment in combatting the climate crisis and puts the U.S. on a path to roughly 40% emissions reduction by 2030. It includes historic investments in the clean energy economy that will lower energy costs, increase our energy security, and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This legislation also promotes alternative energy and electric vehicle production. The CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, invests in science and technology of the future, bolstering efforts to manufacture clean energy technology in the United States and providing access to training programs that will help to develop the STEM workforce of tomorrow. House Democrats also passed a number of bills that act to protect and conserve our planet, including the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, the Water Resources Development Act, and the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act. In addition, House Democrats overturned a dangerous methane emissions rule put into place by the Trump Administration. We will continue to partner with the Biden Administration to combat catastrophic climate change and protect our natural resources for future generations.
For decades public health has been the basis for how we enact emissions standards. The bill before us today, the TRAIN Act, represents a view of environmental protection that is simply off the rails.
The GOP out-of-touch quote of the day goes to Rep. Jeff Flake:
Representative Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican who opposed the measure, complained the figure was $24 billion more than the party agreed to spend when it passed a 2012 budget in April.
President Obama today announced an agreement with 13 automakers that will make an important difference to our economic future, our national security, and our environment: by Model Year 2025, cars and light trucks will meet a fuel efficiency standard of 54.5 miles per gallon. This breakthrough agreement—which builds on the successful efforts of the Democratic-led 111th Congress to improve fuel efficiency and revitalize the American auto industry—will save American families money and significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In fact, the 2025 fuel standards are expected to save Americans an average of $8,000 per vehicle and cut our consumption of oil by 2.2 million barrels a day. I congratulate the Obama Administration and the automakers for this important step toward a more energy-efficient future, which will benefit our economy and increase America's energy independence.
I opposed the Republicans’ Energy and Water Appropriations bill, as it undermines our nation’s ability to keep our lakes, rivers and streams clean. The bill restricts the Corps of Engineers' ability to work with the EPA to protect our waterways under the Clean Water Act. This bill also makes shortsighted cuts to our energy efficiency and renewable energy programs – programs that will pay for themselves in the long run by supporting the development of groundbreaking clean energy technologies that will save consumers money on their energy bills and create the jobs that will help more families Make It In America.
In their Pledge to America, Republicans promised they would focus on creating jobs and growing our economy. They claim the bills they have brought to the Floor this Congress address those priorities, but their bills are more focused on Republican ideology than actually creating jobs. Republicans do not have a comprehensive jobs agenda, but that hasn’t stopped them from using misleading bill titles to convince the American people that they do.
When Republicans took the House majority, they pledged to focus on creating jobs and growing the economy. But after six months, they still haven’t put forward a comprehensive jobs agenda. While Democrats are focused on the Make It In America agenda, a plan to support job creation and boost working families, Republicans are pursuing a partisan agenda that has the wrong priorities.
This week, Republicans are once again falsely accusing Congressional Democrats and the Obama administration of stifling domestic energy production. Democrats are committed to safe, responsible drilling as part of a comprehensive plan to ease the pain at the pump and have taken steps to do so; including proposing legislation to safely expand domestic production while investing in job-creating clean energy technologies and ending tax breaks for big oil companies.
My thoughts and condolences are with all those who suffered the effects of Sunday’s devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri, and with all those who lost loved ones. Sunday’s tornado was historically destructive, and I know that its effects will sadly linger in the Joplin community for a long time to come—in damaged property, in painful injuries, and, worst of all, in lives that cannot be replaced. But natural disasters like this one have so often shown those qualities that are best in our communities: the toughness, selflessness, and commitment to our neighbors that help us rebuild. Those qualities are already on display in Joplin, and I know that the community will soon recover and rebuild.
“With American families struggling under the burden of $4 per gallon gasoline, there is no justifiable reason taxpayers should be subsidizing oil companies currently making near-record profits,” said Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer. “It is time for Republicans to make their priorities clear: Will they side with taxpayers or will they side with oil companies who don’t need the handout? Ending these subsidies is not just good policy, it is simple common sense.”
This week, House Republicans are working to dismantle protections against speculation in the oil markets, which may drive gas prices up for American families. Democrats believe that aggressive oversight of oil speculation is an important part of an energy policy that can bring down gas prices for consumers and ensure that businesses have the fuels they need at a reasonable cost. But Republicans are once again failing to meet the challenge of high gas prices.