From the Office of Senator Kerry

Friday, April 6, 2001

"Today's victory in the United States Senate is a first step towards making sure that the United States will not retreat in a global effort to curb climate change. We've successfully sent the message to the White House that efforts to cut critical investments to understand the global climate, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy and spur innovation in energy technologies, are unacceptable to both Democrats and Republicans in the United States Senate. There is world-wide consensus among scientists that global warming is both real and serious – this vote by the Senate confirms that the United States Senate wants American leadership to be equally as real and serious in solving it. I am deeply grateful to Senators from both sides of the aisle, and particularly to Senator Collins and Senator Lieberman, for their hard work and their passion for this issue. Now is the time to build on this initial victory and enlist the Bush Administration in a serious, bipartisan effort to advance the common interests of all Americans in protecting the global environment."

Kerry-Collins Climate Change Amendment

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE There is a world-wide consensus among climate scientists that global average temperature will rise over the next 100 years if greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow. Scientists report that some of the signs of this warming are already evident: the 90s was the hottest decade on record; glaciers around the world are receding at record rates; 1,000 square miles of the Larsen ice shelf in Antarctica have collapsed into the ocean; Arctic sea ice has thinned by 40 percent in only 20 years; and ocean temperatures throughout the world are rising. And scientists warn that the potential impacts of global warming include the intensification of floods, storms and droughts; the dislocation of millions of people; the spread of tropical diseases; destructive sea level rise; the die off of species; the loss of forests, coral reefs and other ecosystems and other far reaching and adverse impacts.

THE BUDGET SHORTFALL To address the threat of global warming, the U.S. has invested in a range of programs aimed at understanding the global climate, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, saving energy and money, spurring innovation in energy technologies, and sequestering carbon. At the same time, we have engaged internationally to encourage the global use of clean energy technologies developed and manufactured here in the U.S. and to craft an international solution to the threat of climate change. Unfortunately, overall funding levels in the Bush budget proposal and press reports of Administration budgeting plans make clear that these important programs are facing drastic cuts – cuts that could cripple even these minimal efforts to understand and mitigate climate change. The Climate Change Amendment increases budget authority by $4.5 billion over 10 years to makeup for anticipated cuts to these essential programs.

MAINTAINING THE U.S. INVESTMENT The Climate Change Amendment provides additional budget authority of $4.5 billion over 10 years. It is offset by a reduction in the Bush tax cut of 3 tenths of 1 percent. The additional budget authority is allocated to essential programs described below.

International Affairs – Function 150 The amendment increases budget authority by $500 million for 10 years. The increase is to offset cuts to the Global Environment Facility, USAID, State Department offices engaged in international negotiations on climate change and related programs. The GEF forges international cooperation to address critical threats to the global environment, including climate change, by providing financial and technical assistance primarily in developing nations. USAID programs accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies around the world and assist U.S. manufacturers in establishing a position in a clean energy market that it expect to total $5 trillion over the next 20 years. Additional authority for the State Department is to ensure that the budget includes sufficient funding for the U.S. to fully engage with the international community in on-going and highly complex negotiations pursuant to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Science, Space and Technology – Function 250 The amendment increases budget authority by $500 million over 10 years. The increase is to offset cuts to programs like the United States Global Change Research Program and similar efforts that provide basic and essential research into the global climate system and how pollution may be impacting it. The program is working to improve climate observations and our understanding of the global water cycle, ecosystem changes and the carbon cycle. It is a multi-agency effort that draws on the expertise of USDA, NASA, Energy, NOAA and other agencies. This research is fundamental to understanding and responding to the threat of global warming.

Energy – Function 270 The amendment increases budget authority by $2 billion over 10 years. The increase is to offset cuts in energy efficiency, renewable energy and other programs at the Department of Energy that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save consumers money. These programs are the cornerstone of the U.S. effort to produce clean energy through technological innovation. They include the research, development and deployment of solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and other renewable power and technologies that will increase efficiency and reduce pollution from fossil fuel energy sources. The increased authority will also offset cuts to energy efficiency programs that cut energy use, reduce pollution and save consumers money. These programs also strengthen U.S. energy security by reducing demand and increasing clean domestic energy production.

Natural Resources – Function 300 The amendment increases budget authority by $1 billion over 10 years. The increase is to offset cuts in a range of programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy and provide essential research. The Environmental Protection Agency has established several successful, incentive-based, non-regulatory programs to reduce emissions and save money, such as the EnergyStar labeling program for products ranging from computers to refrigerators. Similar programs achieve emissions reductions through increased building efficiency, business-wide efficiency gains and increased transportation efficiency. Also included in this increased budget authority is funding to offset cuts to the US Forest Service and NOAA programs investigating carbon sequestration and basic research into the global climate.

Agriculture – Function 350 The amendment increases budget authority by $450 million over 10 years. The increase is to offset cuts to programs that develop technologies that can produce energy from switchgrass, agricultural waste, timber waste and other biomass. These bioenergy technologies produce very low or no net greenhouse gas emissions and provide a market for U.S. farm products. Also offset are cuts to USDA programs studying how different farming practices and farmland conservation can increase carbon sequestration and reduce atmospheric concentrations.