Cleaner, costlier climate bill slips past House

[Ladywriter 7,783]

Obama, Democrats face difficult test in upcoming Senate vote

In a triumph for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives narrowly passed sweeping legislation Friday that establishes the United States' first limits on pollution linked to global warming and aims to usher in a new era of cleaner, yet more costly energy. The vote was 219-212, capping months of negotiations and days of intense bargaining among Democrats. Republicans were overwhelmingly against the measure, arguing it would destroy jobs in the midst of a recession while burdening consumers with a new tax in the form of higher energy costs.

At the White House, Obama praised the bill.

so not impressed but whatever

I want to personally thank you for your role in achieving a significant step forward in the fight to curb global warming. Moments ago, the House of Representatives took a historic vote to pass comprehensive climate legislation that would put in place a nationwide plan to rein in global warming pollution and create an entirely new, cleaner approach to our nation's energy system.

This legislation does not include everything we wanted--nor did we expect it would--but it establishes a critical first step in building the foundation to rein in global warming pollution, reduce our dependence on oil, and transition to a clean energy economy.

What's more, in a clear victory for science, the bill includes key provisions ensuring these policies can be strengthened in the future in response to emerging climate science--provisions UCS helped write and win support for.

This progress wouldn't have happened if it weren't for UCS supporters like you. You've demanded that Congress take action and provided us with the funding needed to advocate for smart climate solutions, distribute our analysis to Congress, and mobilize nationwide support for this bill.

History has shown that when it comes to cleaning up our environment, getting a national policy in place makes an enormous difference. Again and again, we have shown that we can rise to the challenge set by these national policies by meeting and surpassing environmental standards through innovation, smart science, and American ingenuity. The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act made possible the healthier environment that we take for granted today. When people saw that these vital pieces of legislation were saving lives and helping us breathe easier and drink safer water, they pushed for more. And then we were able to make these protections even stronger.

But we have a long, up-hill battle before us to ensure this groundbreaking legislation becomes law--and the scientific and technical expertise UCS brings to these issues will be essential in this fight. The House of Representatives has shown the way forward, but now our work moves to the Senate where we'll once again be up against the coal and oil industries and the legislators who support them.

President Obama has already expressed support for this bill. But we will need your help to put a strong bill over the finish line. Specifically, you can help turn up the heat on the Senate to act quickly and ensure that we enact a final bill that helps build a revitalized clean energy economy, while reducing the threat of global warming.

Click here to contact your senators today:

http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=wOXClnhBFBsS7Vp-u_O6Bg..

Thanks again for helping make this important step forward.

Sincerely,

Kevin Knobloch

President

Union of Concerned Scientists

Big Oil and its cronies launched an opposition campaign that was

tough, well-funded, and relentless. Thanks to more than 70,000

calls and over 60,000 emails to your Representatives, as well as

generous financial support for our intensive national grassroots

and lobbying campaign, we were able to stand up to the corporate

and special interests who tried to sabotage this bill at every

turn.

This vote is the single most important environmental vote these

Representatives have taken in their careers. We applaud those

members who voted on the right side of history and recognized

that a safer, healthier planet and a new energy economy hang in

the balance. And we will hold accountable those who sided with

business-as-usual special interests and tried to kill this

critical legislation.

Now that the House has passed this historic bill, it is on to

the Senate. Everything we are hearing on the Hill tells us that

Big Oil will continue to spread their lies in order to sabotage

our chances to transition to a clean energy future. The fight

will not be easy, but I assure you, LCV will be doing everything

in our power to see this legislation becomes law.

The stakes could not be higher, but with your support and with

the resources and experience we've gained from over 40 years in

Washington, we will not give up. The future of the planet hangs

in the balance, and we cannot afford to let up now.

Get up-to-the-minute information on the progress of this bill by

visiting http://action.lcv.org/ct/xdwd5pK10SzT/ regularly. We

will keep you up to speed on developments as they happen.

Thank you for your support of LCV, for the messages you send to

your leaders, and for all that you do for our planet.

Sincerely,

Gene Karpinski

President

League of Conservation Voters

[Ladywriter 7,783]

The House of Representatives just passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) this evening by a vote of 219 to 212. This bill has narrowly passed this hurdle and we will redouble our efforts to strengthen it even more in the Senate.

http://www.1sky.org/blog/2009/06/breaking-house-passes-clean-energy-and-climate-bill

Together, we sent Congress more than 18,000 faxes and made 1,600 phone calls to strengthen and pass this bill. We jammed the congressional switchboards and fought hard to get some key amendments to increase efficiency, renewables, and to help low-income communities transition into green jobs.

But, the really tough work has just begun. The bill will face tough opposition from Dirty Coal and Big Oil in the Senate and we will all need to work just as hard in the coming months to pass a clean energy bill.

Watch our video now for more details... and thank you. Your voice truly made a difference.

Gillian Caldwell,

Campaign Director, 1Sky

also heard from repower america and SaveOurEnvironment.org

[Ladywriter 7,783]

and

chelle,

The House of Representatives just passed the American

Clean Energy Security Act -- a victory for our planet

and a cause for celebration among all Care2 activists!

Together, we've sent hundreds of thousands of letters

to Congress, urging them to enact the strong protections

against climate change contained within the

Waxman-Markey climate bill. Today's victory marks a

critical first step in reducing global warming

pollution, investing in clean energy technology,

reducing our dependence on foreign oil and creating

green jobs.

The vote for the American Clean Energy Security Act on

the House floor came to an ultimate margin of a mere

seven votes, 219-212. Let's pause for a moment to

celebrate our success -- and then gear up for what is

sure to be a similarly tight vote in the Senate.

Read more about today's victory at Care2's Cause

Channels, and leave a comment with your reactions to

this sweeping climate bill.

http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFNk_/zJgo/ANR12

Thank you for all you do for our planet and its

inhabitants!

Sincerely,

- The Care2 Campaign Team -

Rebecca, LiAnna, Natasha, Jerry, Robyn, Samer, Andrew,

Karina and Joe