Environmental, science and security resources for covering the 111th Congress
MEMO TO: Congressional reporters
RE: Environmental, science and security resources for covering the 111th Congress
FROM: Media Relations Office, Union of Concerned Scientists, 202-331-5420
DATE: February 19, 2009
The 111th Congress likely will consider a number of bills related to energy, the environment, international security and scientific integrity. Below is a list of resources you may find helpful regarding debates on global warming, clean vehicles, renewable energy, scientific integrity, food production, global security, invasive species, nuclear weapons and missile defense.
GLOBAL WARMING
Last year, more senators than ever voted to move forward on a bill that would have dramatically reduced global warming emissions, but the measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster. President Obama has expressed support for a cap-and-trade program that would reduce global warming pollution 80 percent by 2050. Congressional leaders also have promised to address global warming again this session. The new chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), has pledged to pass global warming legislation out of his committee by May.
In a recent National Journal blog entry, UCS President Kevin Knobloch provided an overview of federal and state action on energy and the environment in 2008 and predicted that the federal government will make huge strides in addressing these issues this year. "With a new, forward-looking president and strong congressional leadership, we expect 2009 to be the year that Congress emulates the states by passing measures that will cut global warming emissions and require utilities to rely more on renewable resources," Knobloch wrote.
For a primer on the necessary elements of an effective cap-and-trade system, go to UCS's cap-and-trade backgrounder.
According to a UCS analysis, the United States and other developed countries will need to reduce their emissions at least 80 percent below today's levels by 2050 to prevent the worst consequences of climate change.
As scientists learn more about how the climate is changing, it is crucial that federal climate policy requires science agencies to review the latest climate science. The federal government should be obligated to effectively respond to such reviews with appropriate policy changes. For more on how such a "rapid response" provision might work, go to UCS' rapid response backgrounder.
Tropical deforestation comprises as much as 20 percent of worldwide global warming emissions. UCS experts recommend that domestic climate legislation and foreign assistance legislation include provisions that help protect tropical forests. U.S. climate change legislation should allocate 4 percent of revenues from auctioning allowances under a cap-and-trade program to preserving tropical forests. It also should limit the use of so-called offsets -- credits for actions that would create or protect tropical forests. Foreign appropriations legislation should include adequate funding to help tropical countries protect their forests. For more on how the United States can protect forests, go to UCS's page on reducing emissions from deforestation and degredation in devloping countries.
UCS helped organize a statement by more than 1,700 leading U.S. scientists and economists calling on the federal government to establish and implement policies that significantly cut U.S. global warming emissions. Signers and institutions are listed by state at the Scientists and Economists' Call to Action page.
VEHICLES
In December 2007, Congress passed the first increase in fuel economy standards in 22 years and mandated that U.S. automakers meet a maximum feasible fuel economy level, with a minimum of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. The Obama administration has the opportunity to implement those standards. According to a UCS analysis, the new administration could set standards as high as 35 mpg by 2015, and a 40 mpg standard is possible by 2020, even without hybrid technology.
In addition to more efficient vehicles, the United States needs cleaner fuels. For background information on biofuels, land-use-change pollution, and the current renewable fuel standard, go to UCS's Smart Bioenergy page.
ENERGY
A renewable electricity standard, which requires utilities to increase their reliance on clean energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal power, has passed the House twice and the Senate three times, but Congress has yet to enact one. To date, 28 states and the District of Columbia have adopted renewable electricity standards.
According to UCS' preliminary analysis of a 25-percent-by-2025 renewable electricity standard introduced by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Todd Platts (R-Penn.), the requirement would boost renewable energy generation by 135 percent above and beyond current policies between now and 2025. UCS calculates that the federal standard would create enough clean electricity to power roughly 150 million typical homes by 2025. In the coming weeks, UCS will release a more comprehensive analysis of a 25-by-2025 requirement that will include additional data on the effects of the national standard on consumer energy bills, job creation, economic development, and global warming emissions.
UCS has an overview of current state energy standards and detailed information on the structure and effectiveness of state renewable electricity standards.
Burning coal produces approximately a third of U.S. carbon dioxide global warming emissions and is a major source of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds, mercury, arsenic, lead and particulates. Even so, the coal industry is spending millions of dollars on a public relations campaign to convince Americans that burning coal is not as dirty as the science indicates. A UCS report examines the potential for and challenges to developing advanced coal technology, including carbon capture and storage technology.
Nuclear power plants are less safe and secure than they should be largely due to inadequate federal oversight. While nuclear power might play a role in addressing global warming, the federal government and the industry must address safety and security threats as well as waste management issues. A UCS report gives an overview of the many challenges facing nuclear power and how the United States can ensure nuclear safety and prevent nuclear proliferation.
GLOBAL SECURITY
The United States can do more to prevent a nuclear terror attack or an accidental nuclear catastrophe. U.S. nuclear weapons policy is dangerously out of step with current strategic and security challenges, and the country's massive nuclear weapons stockpile presents a unnecessary risk to domestic and global security. The Obama administration has the opportunity to usher in a new era of post-Cold-War nuclear weapons and security policies. President Obama should undertake a fundamental reassessment of nuclear weapons' role and purpose in U.S. foreign policy and renew a commitment to further reductions in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. A UCS report examines 10 steps the new administration should take to move toward a world free of nuclear weapons.
The U.S. ground-based missile defense program is incapable of defending the United States from a real-world missile attack, according to UCS experts. Congress should oppose expanding the system and prevent its deployment in Eastern Europe. UCS offers a short overview of missile defense, spending, history and physics.
SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY
In his inaugural address, President Obama promised to "restore the role of science." In recent years, the Bush administration's manipulation, suppression and distortion of federal science has misinformed the public and led to bad policy decisions, especially on health and environmental issues. UCS surveyed nine federal agencies. Hundreds of government scientists reported that the administration had censored or tampered with their work.
UCS has offered detailed recommendations for Congress to restore scientific integrity to federal policymaking. A checklist is on page 23 of the UCS report, "Federal Science and the Public Good."
UCS' recommendations are based on input from thousands of scientists, current and former government science advisors, congressional aides, reporters, and public interest organizations across the political spectrum. They center on five broad themes: protecting federal government scientists; making government more transparent; reforming the regulatory process; ensuring Congress, the president, and executive branch agencies receive sound scientific advice; and strengthen agency monitoring programs to ensure laws are enforced.
The recommendations are consistent with a 2008 statement signed by 15,000 scientists, including John Holdren, President Obama's designated science advisor, which calls on the U.S. government to take concrete steps to protect federal scientists. The statement is available at .
FOOD POLICY
Livestock producers use an estimated 70 percent of all antibiotics and related drugs produced in the United States. The vast majority of antibiotics are used on healthy animals to compensate for the crowded, unsanitary conditions in which they are raised. Mounting scientific evidence shows that routinely feeding antibiotics to farm animals promotes development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, undercutting antibiotics' effectiveness in treating people. UCS expects the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act to be reintroduced this year. The bill would direct the Food and Drug Administration to review the public health consequences of using seven specific classes of antibiotics in animal feed. It also would provide additional funding to help livestock operations become less dependent on antibiotics. UCS has additoinal information on antibiotics science and policy.
INVASIVE SPECIES
Invasive species are imported animals, plants and diseases that threaten native ecosystems and often cause significant economic damage. Experts agree that the most effective way to limit invasive species is to prevent people from importing them and eliminating the pathways that allow them to move into new areas. UCS recommends that Congress revise the federal law that covers animal imports, the Lacey Act, to require federal authorities to screen new species before they allow them into the country. A new federal bill, the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, introduced by Del. Madeline Bordallo (D-Guam), would make the necessary revisions. Additionally, Congress should reauthorize the National Invasive Species Act and pass the Ballast Water Management Act. These measures would coordinate federal authorities to respond rapidly to invasive species and require shippers to treat ballast water, the primary way non-native aquatic organisms invade new waters. UCS has additional information on invasive species science and policy.
