Action Alerts
|
Action Alert: June 12, 2008 UPDATE: Climate Change Legislation |
| Background Boxer-Lieberman-Warner Substitute to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 3036) The Senate's global climate change debate ended last week, after an attempted cloture vote fell short of the votes needed to allow the "Boxer-Lieberman-Warner Substitute" to come to the senate floor for debate. The cloture vote was 48 to 36 (60 votes were needed). In addition, six Senators not present sent notes supporting the cloture vote. In all, 54 Senators demonstrated support for the legislation. The failure to allow debate and bring the legislation to a vote means that the measure is dead for this Congress. However, the good news is that the vote represents the strongest indication yet that Congress may be ready to address climate change legislation that lowers greenhouse gas emissions, begins to create incentives for alternative energy and, most importantly, includes strong measures to protect those who are poor and vulnerable at home and abroad from both climate change and the impacts of climate change legislation. |
| Action This non-victory is worth celebrating as it laid significant groundwork for next year. Please encourage the candidates in the upcoming Presidential and Congressional elections to keep climate change on the radar screen. |