Environmental Defense Applauds Senator Lautenberg for Supporting Bipartisan Climate Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Tony Kreindler, Environmental Defense, 202-572-3378 or 202-210-5791 (cell)

(Washington – October 31) Environmental Defense today praised Senator Frank Lautenberg for his critical support of bipartisan climate change legislation set for a key subcommittee vote tomorrow, and for securing important changes to the bill that could drive deeper reductions in U.S. greenhouse gas pollution.

 “Senator Lautenberg is helping to make history, and he deserves real credit for supporting this bill and working with his colleagues to strengthen it as it moves forward,” said Steve Cochran, national climate campaign director at Environmental Defense.

Lautenberg is a key vote on the Senate Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection, which will markup America’s Climate Security Act (S. 2191) tomorrow morning.

The bill, introduced by Senators Joe Lieberman and John Warner, would put a mandatory cap on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from the electric power, transportation, and manufacturing sectors of the economy. Its sponsors say the cap, coupled with additional energy efficiency provisions, could reduce emissions by as much as 19 percent by 2020 and 63 percent by 2050, compared to 2005 levels.

Lautenberg secured two improvements to the bill prior to tomorrow’s markup: an expansion of the emissions cap to cover natural gas, and a new “look back” provision that will help ensure emissions reduction targets keep pace with current science. He also worked to tighten the bill’s short-term emissions target, give credit to states that go beyond national standards, and set a date for phasing out allocations of emissions allowances to regulated entities.

“We look forward to working with Senator Lautenberg and his colleagues on the Environment & Public Works Committee to continue to improve this already strong bill as it advances,” Cochran said.

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Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. www.environmentaldefense.org