House Advances Climate Action Again, Including Castor-Led Work on Paris Climate Agreement

WASHINGTON (June 19, 2019) – The U.S. House today passed a key funding bill that includes important climate and energy provisions pressed by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Chair of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.
 
Below is a statement from Castor, the author of the Climate Action Now Act (H.R. 9) a House-passed bill that would keep the United States in the Paris Climate Agreement:

“House Democrats promised bold action on the climate crisis and the appropriations package provides significant investments for tackling it. The science is clear and we have the tools, but America needs more research into clean energy, more planning for the public health challenges ahead, and relief for people who are on the front lines of climate change. 

“We keep hearing from our Republican colleagues that they support ‘resilience’ and ‘innovation’ when it comes to solving the climate crisis. But whether it’s in committees or on the House floor, they keep voting against bills that would advance those goals. We have heard their song and dance, but now they need to change their tune and vote like our way of life and future generations depend on it - because they do.

“I sponsored a bill to prevent the Trump Administration from leaving the Paris Climate Agreement and we passed it in the House last month. But Leader McConnell refuses to hold a vote on it. He’s said he wants to turn the Senate into a legislative graveyard. The American people are demanding action on the climate crisis to avoid that fate for the planet. America doesn’t retreat and we don’t cut and run from our commitments. We need to lead the world in addressing the climate crisis and bills like H.R. 2740 with real climate solutions move us forward.”