Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said “This vote will show the world that the United States will continue standing for global action on climate change. This will make the Trump Administration’s decisions on climate change, air pollution, and other climate-related issues less credible around the world.”
“For the sake of our children and grandchildren, for the sake of our clean air and water, the United States Congress today made the largest expenditure on climate in our country’s history. By rejecting fossil fuels and voting overwhelmingly for a market-based, technology-driven, clean-energy transition, Congress can’t turn the page on our history of leadership in global warming solutions.”
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA): “This is great news for the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, and for the entire Inland Empire. … This House vote is a victory for the environment, our climate, public health, and fiscal sanity. While the veto can be appealed, the Trump administration’s reckless decisions on climate and clean energy endanger our future in a way never before seen.”
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA): “This vote marks a turning point in the momentum to address the climate crisis and ensure our children don’t have to inherit a cold, brown, and poisoned world. As we look forward, this new bipartisan commitment to save the environment and create good-paying jobs for hardworking people is crucial in a climate crisis.”
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA): “Today we have the opportunity to send a clear signal to the world, to a way of life, and to a planet that it can no longer afford to ignore. Our collective economy and health depend on an orderly transition away from fossil fuels. Our children will be the victims of inaction.”
National Institutes of Health grant money would now be available for additional analysis of possible ocean acidification impacts.
It’s climate change — but there’s no individual story here. It’s the 1.4 billion people in Pacific Asia who are food insecure.
What goes into this bill?
The bill passed. This is a little baffling because it’s environment story. But as was the case with just about every (new?) bill today, the politics and posturing were the main drivers of how this became a law. Both chambers of Congress passed bills, for example, to prevent bankrupting offshore rigs from drilling in U.S. waters. But the Senate went on to deny President Trump an opportunity to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, as he wanted.
“Thank you @houseenergy & Congress for passing @cwatersamerica. Restoring federal investment & preventing more energy-related pollution is #climatefriendly and makes the desert communities I represent healthier, stronger, and more resilient.”