Capps Applauds Presidential Action on Climate Resiliency

Press Release

Today, Rep. Lois Capps (CA-24) applauded today's announced actions by President Obama to help states and communities prepare for the impacts of climate change by building smarter and developing more resilient infrastructure. Several of these actions and recommendations are included in Capps-authored legislation, including the Coastal State Climate Change Planning Act (H.R. 764), the Water System Resiliency and Sustainability Act (H.R. 765), and the Climate Change Health Promotion and Protection Act (H.R. 2023).

These executive actions stem from early work done by the President's State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. Last November, President Obama established the Task Force, which Capps first called for in a February 2013 letter to the President. The Task Force is made up of 26 officials from across the country, including Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal.

The president's plan provides federal resources to support climate preparedness, to help communities rebuild stronger and safer after natural disasters, to build more resilient communities, and to protect individuals from the health impacts associated with climate change.

Today's announcement shows the President is serious about responding to climate change," Capps said. "I applaud his efforts, and the efforts of the task force, to better equip our communities who are already being affected. I am happy to see that some of the actions I have been calling for in Congress will be implemented by federal agencies. These actions will help coastal states like California plan and implement important climate change mitigation projects, strengthen the resiliency of our drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems and prepare our public health system for the increased demand and stress from climate change impacts."

President Obama has demonstrated great leadership by working with state, local, and tribal governments in preparing for a future with a changing climate, and it has been an honor for me to collaborate with a diverse group of local officials in support of these efforts," said Salud Carbajal, Santa Barbara County Supervisor and Appointee to President Obama's State Local and Tribal Leaders Climate Task Force. "I also applaud Congresswoman Capps both for her advocacy in support of the creation of the Task Force and for being a champion in Congress for many of the recommended actions that have resulted from the work of the Task Force."

Three of the actions reflect provisions in Capps-authored legislation and reflect her long-standing priorities for climate change mitigation and adaptation:

- Making our coasts more resilient;

- Improving stormwater management; and

- Assessing climate-related health hazards.

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