Media release - November 20, 2008
WASHINGTON—In response to the appointment of Representative Henry Waxman as Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Greenpeace Deputy Campaign Director Carroll Muffett released the following statement:
"Rep. Waxman was a key figure in passing
some of the country's most important environmental and public
health legislation. We applaud his appointment as Chair of the
House Energy and Commerce Committee. From the Community Right to
Know Act to the Clean Air Act to the Safe Drinking Water Act, he
has been a leading voice for the public interest and one of the
country's most effective legislators.
"Rep. Waxman has shown the same
dedication to solving global warming, the biggest environmental and
public health crisis of our time by demanding strong, science-based
solutions and building support for action in Congress.
"Tackling the global warming crisis
demands the full commitment of our government, and with Rep.
Waxman's leadership 152 members of Congress have already taken an
important step by outlining a blueprint for success. Now we need
Congress and the new presidential administration to come together
and turn these ideas into action by passing comprehensive,
science-based legislation in as soon as possible.
"Under his leadership, we are confident
the Energy and Commerce Committee can move quickly to turn that
blueprint into a workable, effective bill to solve the climate
crisis. We urge Congressional leaders and our new president to work
with Chairman Waxman to turn that bill into law in 2009."
Waxman's global warming principles call
for reduction targets that would achieve at least 25 percent
reductions by 2020 and a long-term target to reduce U.S. greenhouse
gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. The principles also call for
auctioning emission allowances rather than giving them to
polluters; investing auction revenues in clean energy and
efficiency technologies; and returning revenues to consumers,
workers, and communities to help them transition to a new energy
economy. The principles would protect the ability of states to go
even further, and includes measures to protect against trade
disadvantages to U.S. industry. Finally, the principles call for
dedicating a portion of climate auction revenues to help address
harm from the impacts of global warming.
VVPR info: CONTACT: Carroll Muffett, Greenpeace Deputy Campaign Director, 202-319-2416; Mike Crocker, Greenpeace USA Media Officer, 202-310-2471