Select Committee Postpones Release of Climate Plan Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON (March 16, 2020) - On Monday, Chair Kathy Castor (D-FL) of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released the following statement:

“For the past year, our Select Committee has been working on a congressional action plan to solve the climate crisis. We've met with more than 1,000 stakeholders, reviewed more than 700 detailed responses to our request for information, and were planning to release our comprehensive climate policy recommendations at the end of March,” said Chair Castor. “However, as Congress focuses on the important mission of protecting Americans from the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided today to postpone the release of our climate action plan.

“We recognize the urgent need for climate action. Climate change is impacting public health and we must be prepared for future challenges. We will continue to work on clean energy solutions and a more resilient America - and look forward to releasing our plan when appropriate.

“I urge all Americans to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their neighbors from coronavirus. As science tells us, precautionary measures can slow the spread of the virus and help flatten the curve.” 

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Background: The U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis is charged with delivering ambitious climate policy recommendations to Congress, in order to achieve substantial and permanent reductions in pollution and other activities that contribute to the climate crisis.

The select committee was authorized by House Resolution 6 on January 9, 2019, which called for the release of a set of public policy recommendations for congressional climate action by March 31, 2020.