WASHINGTON - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today praised the formation of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change. Rep. Markey, who was the Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007-2010, and now an original member of the task force, reinforced the goals of the panel to speed up action to cut the carbon emissions that are heating up the planet and causing more extreme weather, among other effects.
Below is the statement of Rep. Markey, who is currently the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee:
“In 2009, the House passed the Waxman-Markey bill that would make significant cuts in the carbon pollution that is wreaking havoc with our climate. The forces of the fossil fuel lobby killed that bill in the Senate. Since then we have experienced the two worst years for the number of natural disasters causing at least a $1 billion in damages, culminating in superstorm Sandy late last year.
“This task force will be successful if it accelerates action to cut the pollution that is supercharging storms, parching our farms, and eroding our coastlines. It will be successful because America has the clean energy technological know-how and moral authority to conceive and execute the efforts needed to address climate change.
“The clock is ticking for the next superstorm Sandy or other climatic catastrophes, and we need to spend every second pushing for swift action.
“When the Waxman-Markey climate bill was moving through Congress, I said then that for the fossil fuel industry, addressing climate change would be a choice between legislation or regulation. The Obama administration is not shying away from regulating carbon emissions, and the members of this task force will support and push President Obama on that effort every step of the way. We are also still dedicated to create the legislative solutions to our climate challenge that will create clean energy opportunities.
“I thank my colleagues on this task force, especially Congressman Waxman and Senator Whitehouse, for their leadership on this vital issue."
