Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today after H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 231-190. H.R. 9 was favorably reported out of the Energy and Commerce Committee on April 4, 2019 by a vote of 29-19.
“Today we sent a message to the President, to the American people and to the world that we recognize the seriousness of the climate crisis and that we intend to do our part to address it. Today we sent the message: we are still in.
“The Climate Action Now Act is about averting catastrophic changes not only to our environment, but to our economy, our communities and human health. The Paris Agreement is our best hope of mobilizing the global action needed to avoid that. With nearly 200 nations party to the Agreement, it’s clear that the rest of the world is embarking on a major new transition to a low-carbon economy.
“By passing this legislation today, we are saying that the United States can and should lead in that transition to a green economy so that our industries, our workers and our communities benefit from the long-term opportunities it creates.
“I’m proud that today the House of Representatives voted to prevent our economy from backsliding simply because President Trump denies both established science and economic reality. The Senate should reject President Trump’s dangerous actions and instead join us in taking action to protect our climate and strengthen our economy for the future."
