FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2007

Contact: Erika Masonhall, 202-224-4041

Lieberman and Warner Hail Panel's Passage of Historic Climate Change Legislation

Washington D.C. -- The Senate Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection today adopted America's Climate Security Act (ACSA), a bill introduced by Senators Joseph I. Lieberman (ID-CT) and John W. Warner (R-VA) to address global climate change. The subcommittee's vote to report the bill to the full Environment and Public Works committee marks the first time a congressional body has voted in favor of legislation mandating cuts in greenhouse gas pollution.

America's Climate Security Act is projected to reduce total U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by as much as 19% below the 2005 level (4% below the 1990 level) in 2020 and by as much as 63% below the 2005 level in 2050. The bill contains a robust set of measures to sustain U.S. economic growth, protect American jobs, and ensure international participation in emissions reductions.

"Today, this committee made history," said Lieberman. "This is potentially a landmark event, the moment at which the United States finally began a serious fight against the threat of unchecked global warming."

"Our Committee has taken a bold step," said Warner. "A balanced and solid bill is now better because colleagues on the committee - both Republican and Democrat have introduced improvements that take us from a great starting point to a product that is now ready for full Committee review."

America's Climate Security Act was introduced on October 18 by Senators Lieberman and Warner, the subcommittee chairman and ranking member, with Senators Cardin, Casey, Coleman, Collins, Dole, Harkin, Klobuchar, and Bill Nelson as original, bipartisan cosponsors.