New Democrat Coalition Releases Climate Change Task Force Goals for the 116th Congress
The New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Don Beyer, Sean Casten, Elaine Luria, and Susan Wild released their goals for the 116th Congress. The Climate Change Task Force will meet with stakeholders and develop policy positions for the Coalition to advance in both the near term and long term.
Climate Change Task Force Mission Statement for the 116th Congress:
Climate change is an existential threat to the health, national security, economic prosperity, and future of our people and planet. The New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force seeks to foster a pro-climate agenda that would meet the targets set by the Paris Climate Agreement. Our best shot of hitting these goals is if we use all of the tools and solutions we can get our hands on as we transition to more sustainable and clean energy. We will seek to eliminate barriers to growth for pro-climate businesses, support market based mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, eliminate clean energy inequities in federal policy, boost resilience, energy innovation, and technologies that address climate change, and promote policies that advance energy efficiency as well as help foster business practices that eliminate energy waste.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report was a wake-up call to the scale and speed of the climate crisis, and the New Democrat Coalition wants to be part of the solution. I have been thrilled by the sharp uptick in activism and engagement on this issue, and believe that we must work to provide the big ideas which this moment calls for over the next decade,” said Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08). “I also believe that we need to do everything we can right now to encourage reductions in carbon emissions, both through public policy and through engagement with the business community. I look forward to pressing this issue with my fellow New Dems.”
Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) said, “I was honored to be named co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition Climate Task Force. As our communities, constituents, and businesses are increasingly feeling the impacts of climate change, it is important that we, as Members of Congress, are leading the way in developing solutions to climate change that work for them and are both bold and achievable. I am excited to bring my 20 years of experience in profitably reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the Task Force and look forward to working with my colleagues to find solutions to the existential threat that is climate change.”
“I’m honored to help lead the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force because sea level rise, recurrent flooding, and preventing offshore drilling are real issues that affect daily life in Coastal Virginia,” Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) said. “I am committed to focusing on these issues and more, as the task force works on commonsense policy fixes to the biggest environmental problems facing America today.”
“Climate change is an existential crisis and we are already seeing its devastating impacts from coast to coast. The only way to solve a problem this big is to come together and seek perspectives from people and communities of different backgrounds, regions, and political parties,” said Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-07). “The New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force is ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work on commonsense policy solutions to reduce carbon emissions and grow our green economy – and I’m proud to help lead this group of innovative, dedicated members.”
Climate Change Task Force for the 116th Congress:
- Co-Chairs: Reps. Don Beyer, Sean Casten, Elaine Luria, and Susan Wild
- Members: Reps. Julia Brownley, Katie Hill, Annie Kuster, Donald McEachin, Seth Moulton, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Scott Peters, Dean Phillips, Kathleen Rice, Brad Schneider, Kim Schrier, Darren Soto, and Tom Suozzi
Next Article Previous Article