| May 18, 2009 |  |
Coalition Urges Members to Strengthen, Pass Waxman-Markey
A coalition of advocacy groups working on climate and energy legislation sent the following letter to members of Congress urging them to "strengthen and pass" the American Clean Energy and Security Act, introduced by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), as well as oppose any weakening amendments:
Alliance for Climate Protection—American Rivers—Audubon—Center for American Progress Action Fund—Clean Water Action—Climate Solutions—Defenders of Wildlife—Earthjustice—Environment America—League of Conservation Voters—League of Women Voters of the United States—National Parks Conservation Association—National Wildlife Federation—Natural Resources Defense Council—Oceana—Pew Environment Group—Sierra Club—The Wilderness Society—Union of Concerned Scientists—World Wildlife Fund
May 18, 2009
Dear Representative,
On behalf of the millions of people we represent, we urge you to strengthen and support the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), which sets us on the path toward creating clean energy jobs, reducing our dangerous dependence on oil, and cutting the carbon pollution that causes global warming. This committee vote is the most important in decades, and we hope you will do all that you can to strengthen and pass this legislation.
The Chairmen's bill, H.R. 2454, lays the foundation for solving America's energy and climate challenges: including a firm limit on carbon pollution; support for renewable energy and a smart power grid; and standards and incentives for improving energy efficiency. Combined, these provisions will put Americans back to work building, delivering, and installing the systems and technologies to move us toward a clean energy future and reduce the threat of global warming.
Despite the progress the Committee has made, we believe that some of the recent changes to the proposed legislation represent concessions to the failed energy policies of the past. We urge you to improve the legislation to create more clean energy jobs faster and reduce consumer energy costs more effectively by strengthening clean energy standards and increasing guaranteed investments in cost-effective energy efficiency.
It is essential for the Energy and Commerce Committee to pass this bill by Memorial Day as a first step toward enacting comprehensive clean energy and climate solutions this year.
Once again, we urge you to support The American Clean Energy and Security Act and to work to strengthen this bill as it moves through the legislative process. Most immediately, we urge you to oppose any amendments that weaken this legislation and to support any amendments that would accelerate clean energy investments, create more clean energy jobs, promote a global climate agreement, further safeguard natural resources and respond to the latest climate science.
Future generations will thank you for leaving them a stronger economy and a safer planet.
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
