Congressional Watch, November 2009 Edition
LANDMARK SENATE CLEAN ENERGY LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, of which Sen. Max Baucus is a senior member, conducted three days of hearings on S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, beinning Tuesday, October 27, with opening remarks from Cabinet-level officials. S. 1733 is the energy bill introduced on September 30 by Sen. John Kerry, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and EPW Chairman Barbara Boxer. The committee is expected to mark up and vote on the bill by early November.
Read Sen. Boxer's opening statement and access the link to the statements of all panel participants. Panel 4 on October 29 included testimony by Larry Schweiger of the National Wildlife Federation as well as others who addressed the need for climate change legislation to address natural resource adpatation.
Statement of Senator Max Baucus on S. 1733
October 27, 2009
EPW Legislative Hearing
S. 1733, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
I want to thank Chairman Boxer and Ranking Member Inhofe and our witnesses for being here today to discuss climate change.
The legislation before us today is about protecting our outdoor heritage. We have a moral obligation to leave this planet in better shape than we found it. If uncontrolled, the impacts of climate change put this future at risk.
The legislation before us today is about our economy. Montana, with our resource - based, agriculture and tourism economies, cannot afford the unmitigated impacts of climate change. But, we also cannot afford the unmitigated effects of climate change legislation.
That is why I support passing common-sense climate legislation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions while protecting our economy. The key word in that sentence is "passing."
I have some concerns about the overall direction of the bill before us today and whether it will lead us closer to or further away from passing climate change legislation.
For example, I have serious reservations with the depth of the mid-term reduction target in the bill and the lack of pre-emption of the Clean Air Act's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
We cannot afford a first step that takes us further away from an achievable consensus on common sense climate legislation. We could build that consensus here in this Committee. If we don't, we risk wasting another month, another year, another Congress without taking a step forward into our future.
I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in this Committee prior to the mark-up to address these and other key issues. Thank you, Madam Chairman
More Sen. Baucus on S. 1733
The New York Times: Baucus Has 'Serious Reservations' With Senate Climate Bill, October 27, 2009
Politico: Max Baucus criticizes Barbara Boxer climate bill, October 27, 2009
Sen. Jon Tester on S. 1733
The New York Times: The Plots Thicken in Senate Climate Deliberations, October 26, 2009
Statement by Sen. John Kerry on Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
October 1, 2009
In this time of economic challenge, we have a unique opportunity to put Americans back to work and take charge of our security, our energy future and the fate of our planet. We have the chance to reclaim our energy destiny. More...
Section by section summery of the bill
Pollution reduction and investment mechansim in the bill
TAKE ACTION
Senator Baucus, as a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, plays a pivotal role in the final clean energy legislation that will pass that committee as well as the full senate. Senator Tester will be voting on the legislation when it reaches the full Senate. NOW IS THE TIME TO CONTACT SENATORS BAUCUS AND TESTER AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT STRONG CLEAN ENERGY LEGISLATION THAT WILL MEAN JOBS FOR MONTANA.
The large coal and oil corporations have spent millions lobbying to weaken and stop any clean energy bill in Congress. Here are actions you can take to help get a strong clean energy bill through Congress:
- Call Senator Baucus' and Senator Tester's offices TODAY and urge them to support a strong clean energy bill.
They're hearing plenty from the other side - they need to hear from you. Don't wait - committee voting will start in early November!
- Talk to Senators Baucus and Tester. Sen. Tester is in Montana most weekends and the Congressional delegation is expected to be home for the Veterans Day recess Nov. 11 through the 13th, and again for Thanksgiving the week of November 23rd. These visits are great opportunities to talk to our Senators asking them to support strong and meaningful clean energy legislation.
- Write a letter to the editor - and copy it to Senators Baucus and Tester!
Talking points for letters:
a. The benefits of moving to a clean energy economy are huge. Montana households would benefit from investments in clean energy with expanded job opportunities, rising wages, and reduced home heating and utility costs. The jobs are diverse and many have historically been well-paying, allowing more Montanans to support themselves and their families. Clean energy investments create three times the jobs as the same level of investment in fossil fuels.
b. Fuel savings over time allow investments in renewable energy to pay for themselves. Renewable energy can save scarce water resources, compared to fossil fuel-generated electricity. Planning as to facility location, improved forecasting, provision of backup and reserve capacities and appropriate extension of transmission and distribution grids, along with improved efficiency and capacity, help make renewable energy a reliable energy source.
c. Carbon pollution is costing more and more each year in damage from droughts, spread of insect-borne diseases, more intense weather events like fires, hurricanes and storms, and increasing insurance rates. We cannot afford to do nothing!
d. Delay is not an option. America's reliance on foreign oil threatens our national security. We must invest a modest amount now to get cleaner air, greater energy security, and new energy jobs. America must become a global leader in clean energy for the 21st century. - Sign MCV's Clean Energy Jobs Petition.
ACTIONS AND OPINION
Baucus co-sponsors habitat adaptation bill
On October 27, Sen. Baucus joined Sens. Bingaman (D-NM), chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) in introducing legislation to mitigate the effects of climate change on fish and wildlife habitat, forests and water resources (S. 1933, The Natural Resources Climate Adaptation Act of 2009). The bill has been referred to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Read Sen. Baucus' comments on S. 1933.
Montana's delegation awarded Golden Triangle Award - Were climate change positions really a factor?
The three members of Montana's Congressional delegation are among the 63 legislators honored by the National Farmers Union in mid-September for their leadership on agricultural issues. Among the issues for which they received the Golden Triangle Award, NFU's highest legislative honor, is their "support for climate change and energy legislation ... and their support for increasing the use and production of renewable fuels." Ironic, given that MT Congressman Dennis Rehberg voted against the most significant climate change legislation in the House, the America Clean Energy and Security Act - legislation which NFU supported, saying "Failing to pass climate change legislation is not an option."
Two weeks after announcing the awards, NFU criticized newly-introduced Senate climate change draft legislation (the Kerry-Boxer bill), saying it failed to meet all the principles it has outlined as necessary for any national, mandatory carbon emission cap and trade system: the U.S. Department of Agriculture must be granted control and administration of the agriculture offset program; recognize early actors that have already undertaken greenhouse gas emission reductions; no artificial cap is placed on the use of domestic offset activities; carbon sequestration rates are based upon science; and producers are permitted to stack environmental benefit credits.
Rehberg promotes federal $$$ for Geothermal Deveopment
Congressman Rehberg endorsed almost one-half million dollars for geothermal development in Hot Springs Valley, calling it the ‘balanced approach' he supports to meet America's energy needs. The funding was included in the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee bill. More...
More information from Max on climate change
Max has a newly designed web site which now includes Energy among the Legislative Issues, with sections titled ‘Solutions,' ‘Energy Independence,' and ‘Climate Change and Energy.' There's also a link to Contact Max on this Issue.
In the news: Tester Wilderness Bill
Baucus signs on to Tester's wilderness bill
The Missoulian: Talking about trees: Tester discusses forest, jobs bill in Missoula, October 26, 2009
Tester holds meetings in Montana on wilderness bill
Sen. Jon Tester has held several public meetings on his wilderness bill, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act (S.1470), which has been referred to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. No hearing date has been set.
The Western News: Supporters, opponents turn out for Tester talk in Troy, October 13, 2009
Bozeman Chronicle: Tester presents forest bill in Bozeman, September 28, 2009
Montana Standard: Tester meeting on forest bill draws big crowd, September 26, 2009
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