A cadre of House Republicans introduced a resolution Wednesday supportive of taking action to combat global warming, conceding to a degree that it is a result of manmade activities and a threat to the nation.
“Clean energy innovation is key to addressing the serious issue of climate change,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, one of three Republicans who introduced the resolution Wednesday and will begin a campaign to attract supporters. “This resolution brings together the priority of addressing the risks of climate change with the importance of protecting and creating American jobs” because “innovation and clean energy are key to solving both,” she said.
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• It’s all about the numbers: Stefanik and Reps. Carlos Curbelo of Florida and Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania led a broader group of House Republicans in introducing the resolution “that calls for using American innovation to improve environmental stewardship.”
The three lawmakers were joined by 14 others, including: Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Barbara Comstock of Virginia, John Faso of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, John Katko of New York, Mia Love of Utah, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey, Brian Mast of Florida, Pat Meehan of Pennsylvania, Tom Reed of New York, David Reichert of Washington and Mark Sanford of South Carolina.
Getting anything passed in the House is all about the numbers. And with 400 members, reaching a majority is going to take some time.
• A resolution redo: A nearly exact replica of the resolution was introduced last Congress, led by New York Rep. Chris Gibson, who decided to leave politics last year. The Gibson resolution only received about 10 signatories after months of planning.
• Now’s the time: With President Trump seeking to oppose climate regulations while calling global warming an elaborate “hoax,” the resolution shows that some Republicans want the party to embrace the issue. The resolution looks to innovation, not regulation, to confront the problems of climate change.
• Climate change is manmade: The resolution embraces the idea that greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, from the burning of fossil fuels are at least partly to blame for increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels, more flooding and drought. The resolution was introduced after new EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said last week that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are not tied to global warming.
• It’s only a resolution: Even though it may be a radical idea these days for Republicans to support action to combat global warming, the resolution is not binding. It is only an acknowledgment, with no one on the hook to do anything.
• Defense Secretary Jim Mattis calls climate change a threat: The resolution wss introduced one day after reports said that Mattis called climate change a threat to national security and one military planners must consider in drawing up strategies.
The resolution acknowledges the Defense Department’s previous assertion that climate change is a threat multiplier as justification for Republicans to address the issue.
