Passage of House Climate and Energy Bill a Step in the Right Direction

June 26, 2009

House passage today of the American Clean Energy and Security Act is a step in the right direction in the fight against dangerous climate change and for developing cleaner, more secure energy resources, Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP), a national grassroots organization, said.

"The bill is not perfect, but we cannot afford further delays in limiting greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change and in developing cleaner, more secure energy resources," David Jenkins, REP vice president for government and political affairs, said.

"Doing nothing is not an option. The costs and risks of failing to limit greenhouse gas emissions are too high. We owe it to our country and to our country's future citizens to take action. Today, the House looked to the future and did the right thing for our economy, security, and environment," Jenkins said.

REP thanked the eight Republican members of the House who bucked their leadership and voted for the legislation. The eight Republicans included:

CA – Mary Bono Mack
DE – Michael Castle
IL – Mark Kirk
NJ – Leonard Lance, Frank LoBiondo, Christopher Smith
NY – John McHugh
WA – Dave Reichert

"They followed the example of Ronald Reagan. When scientific concern arose about ozone depletion in the 1980s, Reagan dismissed ranting from the left and scoffers in his party, listened carefully to experts, weighed the facts, and took strong steps to safeguard the atmosphere," Jenkins said.

"We are disappointed, however, in the dilatory actions of House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), whose delaying tactics wasted the House's time and embarrassed the party," Jenkins said.

Developing cleaner energy sources that reduce emissions will create jobs and lower our country's dangerous dependence on oil.

"There are clear economic advantages to acting now, which is why many leading American businesses support the American Clean Energy and Security Act. A cap on emissions will create the certainty that businesses need to invest in energy efficiency and low-carbon energy technologies that will create jobs and strengthen our manufacturing economy," Jim DiPeso, REP vice president for policy and communications, said.

"The bill also will stimulate development of energy technologies that will lower oil dependence and the security risks that are unavoidable consequences of oil dependence," DiPeso said.