Environmental Update

Statement

Dear Friend,

I am writing to update you on environmental legislation currently under consideration on Capitol Hill.

Climate Change and Copenhagen

The ice caps are melting faster while it is snowing in Florida. This winter's bizarre weather is a timely reminder of the destabilizing effects of climate change. It causes not just hotter weather on average, but also unusual and extreme weather. Unfortunately, the Senate has not yet passed a comprehensive climate change bill, even though the House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) last summer.

I worked with the Energy and Commerce Committee to increase funding for local government energy efficiency programs in H.R. 2454, and was honored to "whip" for the bill and help identify the votes to pass the bill on the House floor. Although the Senate has not passed a bill, a group of Senators including John Kerry, Lindsey Graham, and Barbara Boxer is working to craft legislation that can pass the 60 vote filibuster threshold.

Because the Senate was unable to pass climate change legislation by December, it was not possible for the United States to press for a legally binding international climate treaty in Copenhagen. Nonetheless, thanks to President Obama's leadership at the conference, most nations present agreed to a framework for reducing tropical deforestation and funding clean energy and efficiency in developing countries.

These are important first steps toward building an international framework in which both developed and developing countries are able to sign a legally binding climate treaty. Finally, for the first time China agreed to international verification of its emissions reductions. Although these steps are not sufficient to stabilize and reduce international greenhouse gas emissions, they represent a sound foundation upon which a legally binding treaty could be constructed if the Senate manages to pass a strong climate bill this year.

Complete America's Great Trails Act, H.R. 1912

Since introducing this legislation with Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) in April, we have recruited 28 cosponsors and asked for a hearing by the House Ways and Means and Natural Resources Committees.

Wind Energy Research and Development Act, H.R. 3165

Wind energy is the most cost competitive renewable electricity source in the United States, but it is not as cheap as coal generated electricity. The Wind Energy Research and Development Act would improve national wind energy development and help achieve further cost reductions in the cost of clean wind energy. This legislation passed the House of Representatives in September.

Solar Technology Roadmap Act, H.R. 3585

In October, the House of Representatives passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. This legislation establishes a research, development, and demonstration program for solar energy technology. Since the Carter administration initiated solar energy development programs through the Department of Energy, the United States' development of solar energy has been hampered by periodic reductions in funding, particularly in the 1980s and early 1990s. This bill will help establish a more dependable solar energy program to assist in our efforts to promote renewable energy.

Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Restoration Act, H.R. 3852

My previous environmental update discussed testimony that Congressman Rob Wittman, also from Virginia, and I offered before the Transportation and Infrastructure's Water Resources subcommittee. Since that time, we have recruited many cosponsors to H.R. 3852, including Democrats and Republicans from throughout the Bay watershed. For the first time, we have built a coalition that includes strong support from the headwaters of the Bay, including upstate New York. This broad base of Congressional support will be vital to passage of a strong bill to restore the Bay. I was honored by an opportunity to join Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, and Congressman Wittman in speaking to Choose Clean Water activists at their conference on Capitol Hill promoting the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Restoration Act.

Sincerely,

Gerald E. Connolly
Member of Congress

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