June, 10 2010, 06:33pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Elliott Negin,Media Director,enegin@ucsusa.org
Senate Rejects Murkowski Attack on Science and Clean Air Act
WASHINGTON
The Senate today voted against a resolution introduced by Sen. Lisa
Murkowski (R-Alaska) that would have blocked the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating global warming emissions under
the Clean Air Act. The resolution sought to rescind the EPA's finding
that global warming emissions endanger public health. The Union of
Concerned Scientists (UCS) called Sen. Murkowski's resolution "an
attack on science."
Below is a statement by Kevin Knobloch, UCS president:
"We're relieved the Senate ultimately realized just how irresponsible it would have been to pass this resolution.
"It's deeply disturbing that some senators thought they could wave a
magic wand and make the entire body of climate science disappear. The
EPA determined that global warming emissions endanger public health.
Passing a resolution pretending the agency never made that finding
can't erase the facts. The EPA is right to start regulating these
emissions as soon as possible.
"Fortunately a majority of the Senate stood up to this attack on
science. But that's not enough. The Senate needs to pass a bill that
puts a limit on U.S. emissions this session with enough time to get a
final bill to the president's desk.
"Senator Murkowski's resolution would have had far-reaching
ramifications. Besides letting power plants and factories continue to
emit dangerous pollutants, it would have jeopardized the historic
agreement that set the first joint fuel economy and global warming
tailpipe standards. In 2020, those standards will save more than a
million barrels of oil per day, cut our emissions more than 200 million
metric tons, save motorists more than $32 billion at the pump, and
create as many as 200,000 new jobs across the country
"Many of the senators who voted for the resolution say they want
Congress, not the administration, to address climate change. That
position has integrity only if the Senate moves swiftly to pass a
strong climate and energy bill."
Read the letter signed by nearly 2,000 scientists urging senators to oppose Sen. Murkowski's proposal.
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
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