Climate change is a household name again. With the new Democratic majority in the House, both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee held hearing to discuss the climate crisis that faces the nation.
It was the first meeting on climate change in six years for the House Energy Committee and the the first for the Natural Resources Committee in over eight years.
“For everyone who has called on Congress to #ActOnClimate, we hear you,” Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change tweeted. “We believe the science, we understand the urgency and we are committed to getting results. Stay tuned.”
While Republican leadership has ignored climate change or dismissed it altogether, the Democratic leadership is determined to protect the environment and take take climate change very seriously.
On the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s agenda, led by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), is to restore many environmental rules, which were recently part of Donald Trump’s regulations roll back, the New York Times reported.
And Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who chairs the Natural Resources Committee, will monitor “onshore and offshore oil and gas, renewable energy development, protecting public lands, species protection and Indigenous peoples affairs,” EcoWatch reported.
“Protecting our environment, taking climate change seriously, and putting the public interest first are not optional on this Committee, and that’s what Democrats are going to do every day for the next two years,” Grijalva said in a statement. “The American people want clean air and water and public lands protected for the future. It’s our job to make sure they get them. Our entire team is excited to get started right away, and everyone should expect big things from this Committee.”
COMMENTS