Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Friday she intends to reauthorize the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, chaired by Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). The original funding for the Committee does not extend into the next Congress.
Over the past 18 months, the Select Committee has held more than 50 hearings on a broad array of subjects ranging from the national security, economic, and environmental threats posed by climate change, to advanced vehicle and renewable energy technologies, to policy options for lowering prices at the gasoline pump.
The Select Committee released its end-of-session report on Friday, which included key findings and recommendations from numerous hearings, which were "firsts" for Congress, including the first Congressional hearing on the national security implications of climate change; the first green jobs hearing; and the first hearing on the voluntary carbon offset market
"This has been one of the most successful sessions of Congress on energy issues, but there is still much more to be done," continued Chairman Markey. "We still must pass a Renewable Electricity Standard, we must improve the efficiency of our homes and other buildings, and we absolutely must pass global warming legislation. The Select Committee will work tirelessly to pass all three of these bills, and many others."
The extension of this Committee, as well as the ousting of John Dingell (D-Mich.) as the Chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, sets the stage for a concerted legislative effort on environmental issues in the next Congress.
However, the results of two key Senatorial races (in Georgia and Minnesota) have yet to be determined. For the first time in 16 years, Democrats will control both chambers of Congress and the White House, but without both of these Senate seats they will not have a filibuster-proof majority.
Nonetheless, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who will continue to chair the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, announced last week that she will introduce two pieces of climate legislation in January.
"The first bill will establish a grant program to reduce global warming emissions under the Clean Air Act with up to $15 billion a year available to spur innovations in clean energy, including advanced biofuels," Boxer said.
The other bill would amend the Clean Air Act, directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set up a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases that meets the goals laid out by president-elect Obama.
Follow the link below to read more about how California legislators are taking the lead in Congress.
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