December, 18 2019, 11:00pm EDT
Major Missed Opportunity on Clean Energy Incentives to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Congress just passed on a real opportunity to take action on clean energy incentives--and, thus, the climate crisis--before 2019 comes to an end.
Congress declined to support several clean energy tax incentives in the federal budget year-end spending bill, including opportunities to spur investment and innovation in energy storage, offshore wind, and clean energy production like solar, energy-efficient buildings, and electric vehicles.
WASHINGTON
Congress just passed on a real opportunity to take action on clean energy incentives--and, thus, the climate crisis--before 2019 comes to an end.
Congress declined to support several clean energy tax incentives in the federal budget year-end spending bill, including opportunities to spur investment and innovation in energy storage, offshore wind, and clean energy production like solar, energy-efficient buildings, and electric vehicles.
Using the tax code to further promote clean energy was an achievable win, and it would have been a signal that Congress is prepared to make addressing the climate crisis a priority next year.
The following is a statement by Jeff Carter, Executive Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility:
"At a time when our broken political system has made the task of moving forward with comprehensive climate change legislation a steep, frustrating uphill battle, it's even more frustrating when members of Congress fail to take advantage of opportunities to take at least some small but significant steps forward. There is simply no excuse for not including these clean energy tax incentives. We can't afford to wait. Our health, and our children's health, depend on action now.
"For those members expressing 'disappointment' this week over punting away the opportunity that presented itself this week, we look forward to supporting your efforts to take the climate crisis seriously and advance the bold measures we need in the coming year."
Physicians for Social Responsibility mobilizes physicians and health professionals to advocate for climate solutions and a nuclear weapons-free world. PSR's health advocates contribute a health voice to energy, environmental health and nuclear weapons policy at the local, federal and international level.
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Civil liberties defenders on Thursday decried the U.S. Senate's advancement of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, which critics say lawmakers are trying to ram through without protection against warrantless surveillance and with a provision that would effectively make every American a spy whether they like it or not.
Senators voted 67-32 in favor of a cloture motion to begin voting on RISAA, a bill to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which expires on Friday. FISA—a highly controversial law that has been abused hundreds of thousands of times—allows warrantless surveillance of non-U.S. citizens but also often sweeps up Americans' communication data in the process.
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This so-called "Make Everyone a Spy" clause would allow the attorney general or director of national intelligence to force electronic communication service providers to "immediately provide... all information, facilities, or assistance" the government deems necessary.
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Columbia President Minouche Shafik informed the campus community on Thursday that she had authorized the police to clear the encampment.
As it has been in the past, the school has become a center of anti-war protests—and crackdowns by school officials and the police—since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza in October.
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