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Global warming bills gather support
More than 115 members of Congress have cosponsored the Safe Climate Act, a science-based bill to dramatically reduce global warming pollution. Introduced in late June by Rep. Henry Waxman (Calif.), the bill requires the United States to reduce its global warming pollution by about 15 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050.
To help boost cosponsorship of the bill, we released “Rising to the Challenge: Six Steps to Cut Global Warming Pollution in the United States.” The report lists six strategies that, if implemented, could achieve these reductions, while improving America’s environment and our energy security. Recommendations include increasing gas mileage standards to 40 miles per gallon.
Coastal drilling setback is oil industry giveaway
Late last year, Congress approved a bill that would end the decades-old moratorium on oil and gas drilling off most of America’s shores.
Despite a successful May 18 House vote to uphold the ban on new offshore drilling, our shores are not protected. In July, Sens. Domenici (N.M.), Martinez (Fla.), Landrieu (La.) introduced and passed a bill to open up 8.3 million acres of ocean off Florida’s coast to oil and gas drilling.
“Opening our shores to drilling would put our scenic beaches and coastal waters at great risk for a small, short-term supply of oil and gas,” said Oceans Advocate Mike Gravitz. “Routine drilling operations dump thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals into the marine environment and could spoil the delicate ecology and economic value of America’s beautiful beaches for generations.”
According to the Minerals Management Service, the new areas of the Gulf of Mexico that this bill would open contain approximately 525 million barrels of oil or about 26 days worth of oil at current consumption rates.
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