America's Climate Security Act of 2007

Background
Following the introduction and debate of several bills aimed at combating climate change, Sens. Joe Lieberman and John Warner announced in August 2007 they would introduce a bill containing a cap-and-trade system for limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

On October 18, 2007, Lieberman and Warner introduced S. 2191, America's Climate Security Act of 2007. The bill was the ninth to be introduced since the beginning of 2007.

Bill Summary

 * Capping greenhouse emissions: The bill would impose emission limits on electric utility, transportation, and manufacturing industries.
 * Between 2005 and 2012: The bill caps emissions at 5200 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, the estimated levels during 2005.
 * Between 2012 and 2020: Further reductions of 2 percent per year should result in a 15% reduction below 2005 levels.
 * Between 2020 and 2050: Emissions should be reduced by 70% by 2050.
 * Transition assistance: To smooth the way for companies and individuals, the Lieberman-Warner bill includes financial incentives for reducing emissions
 * Low- and middle-income families: The legislation calls for $350 billion in assistance for low- and middle-income families though 2030. The money would come from programs such as the Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program.
 * Modernization assistance: The legislation provides $500 billion through 2030 for investments in zero- and low-carbon technologies.

Subcommittee Passage
On November 1, 2007, the Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions approved the measure, and recommended it to the full Committee on Environment and Public Works. During the subcommittee hearing, Sen. Bernard Sanders tried unsuccessfully to modify substantial portions of the bill, with only one proposed amendment accepted. He had attempted to "strengthen the auction of pollution allocations, lower the cap on emissions, earmark subsidies for renewable energies, demand accountability from the auto industry, and diminish industry's capacity to stall simply by buying carbon offsets."

Approval in Environment and Public Works Committee
Warner joined Democrats and Lieberman in approving the legislation on December 5, 2007, following a day of debate in the Environment and Public Works Committee. According to one report, Republican Sens. Jim Inhofe (Okla.) and Larry Craig (Idaho) offered 150 amendments to the act. In addition, The Mercury News reported that opponents "failed to amend the bill with a provision that would end the emissions caps unless China - about to become the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases - adopted similar restrictions within 10 years." Inhofe said the bill would cost 2.3 million during the next 10 years.

Some groups and lawmakers remained skeptical that the bill would do enough to curb emissions. A representative of the Union of Concerned Scientists said the bill was a "strong foundation" but, expressed a desire for tougher measures:

"If we are to have a fighting chance to avoid the worst effects of climate change, the United States has to cut emissions by 80 percent from current levels by the middle of the century."

The committee approved the legislation by a 11-8 vote. No timetable has been announced as to when the bill might reach the full Senate for debate.

Support
The following people and organizations endorsed the Lieberman-Warner bill:


 * League of Women Voters
 * Natural Resources Defense Council
 * Environmental Defense Fund

Opposition
The following people, companies and organizations were opposed to the bill:
 * Nuclear Information and Resource Service
 * Friends of the Earth
 * President George W. Bush
 * Sen. James Inhofe
 * Club for Growth

=Articles and resources=

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
 * climate change
 * global warming
 * Kyoto Protocol

External articles

 * Zachary Coile, "Senate taking up key climate-change bill," San Francisco Chronicle, June 2, 2008.