Congresswoman Doris Matsui Lauds Committee Approval of Historic Climate Change Legislation

Press Release

Congresswoman Doris Matsui Lauds Committee Approval of Historic Climate Change Legislation

American Clean Energy and Security Act Incorporates Three Flood Protection-Related Amendments Written by Rep. Matsui

Representative Doris Matsui (CA-05) hailed the approval today by the House Energy and Commerce Committee of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation that contains a total of four amendments authored by Representative Matsui.

"The American Clean Energy and Security Act is historic legislation that takes bold action to fight global warming by capping carbon dioxide emissions, investing in clean energy technologies, and helping communities like Sacramento adapt to climate change," said Representative Matsui. "Years of inaction on global warming policy have exacerbated the flood-protection challenges we face in Sacramento by changing the precipitation patterns, Sierra Nevada snowpack, and watershed flows that have dictated our flood protection response for generations. Thanks to my amendments, Sacramento will be in a much better position to strengthen our flood protection infrastructure so that it can respond most effectively to new challenges posed by climate change."

Representative Matsui, who serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, played a major role in shaping the American Clean Energy and Security Act by securing adoption of three critical amendments that will help the Sacramento region adapt to changing precipitation and flood patterns:

1. An amendment requiring that funding provided in the bill for adaptation to climate change-induced flooding be used only to supplement—not to replace—existing sources of flood protection dollars;
2. An amendment requiring states to report on the use of emissions allowance revenue to reduce flood and storm damage caused by climate change;
3. An amendment requiring states to prioritize flood control adaptation projects based on how well they mitigate the destructive impacts of rainfall in densely-populated areas.

"Just as our energy and environmental policies are intertwined, so too is Sacramento's flood protection integrally tied to global warming," said Representative Matsui. "My amendments to the American Clean Energy and Security Act ensure that Sacramento has the tools and resources it needs to adapt to the changing winter precipitation patterns, reduced snowpack, and unpredictable water flows that are the unfortunate results of unchecked climate change."

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