Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today as he joins a Congressional Delegation trip to Glasgow, Scotland for the twenty sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP26:
“I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with other congressional leaders in Glasgow, united in our commitment to fight the climate crisis and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. We are here to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to a stronger, cleaner future.
“Our Build Back Better Act stands as a pillar of that commitment, being the single-largest investment in emissions reductions and climate mitigation in our nation’s history. From getting more renewable energy online and more electric vehicles on the road, to the creation of a new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to rapidly deploy zero-emissions technology, the Build Back Better Act accelerates the transition to clean energy and sets us on the path to net zero greenhouse gas pollution by 2050. Meanwhile, the bill’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program incentivizes significant methane waste reduction. When combined with the Global Methane Pledge and the Biden EPA’s crackdown on methane pollution from oil and gas sources, the message is clear: the United States is back, and we will deliver on our climate commitments.
“There is more work to be done, and I look forward to the discussions we’ll have over the coming days. The climate crisis is a threat to our environment, our health, and our way of life, but it also presents us with an opportunity to reposition our economy for sustained growth. Solving this global problem requires global cooperation, and those willing to tackle it head-on will lead the way and benefit the most."
In September, Pallone successfully advanced the Build Back Better Act out of the Energy and Commerce Committee and led efforts on the key climate provisions that were included in the updated version of the bill that was introduced last month. In June, the Energy and Commerce Committee also oversaw successful passage of H.J. Res. 34, legislation restoring methane pollution standards for the oil and gas sector.
