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Global warming bills gather support
More than 115 members of Congress, including Reps. Robert Wexler (Boca Raton) and Alcee Hastings (Ft. Lauderdale), have co-sponsored the Safe Climate Act, a science-based bill to dramatically reduce global warming pollution. Introduced in late June by Rep. Henry Waxman (Calif.), the bill requires the United States to reduce its global warming pollution by about 15 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050.
To help boost cosponsorship of the bill, we released “Rising to the Challenge: Six Steps to Cut Global Warming Pollution in the United States.” The report lists six strategies that, if implemented, could achieve these reductions, while improving America’s environment and our energy security. Recommendations include increasing gas mileage standards to 40 miles per gallon.
Congress passes Fishery Conservation Act
Environment Florida applauded the House and Senate for passing a bill in the last days of the 109th Congress that is critical to maintaining healthy fish populations, marine life and oceans. The bill mandates an end to overfishing, the first important step toward rebuilding our depleted fisheries.
The bill also mandates that decisions by regional fishery management councils be based on the findings of their science advisors, rather than on the self-interest of members of the councils. These are major steps forward
built on a decent framework that has been in place since 1996.
While the bill does not contain everything that the fishery conservation
community had hoped for, the bill’s sponsors resisted attempts to roll back important provisions, and took several significant steps forward on conservation.
Given the frightening recent scientific reports about the declining productivity of our oceans because of global warming and the potential worldwide collapse of commercial fisheries, passage of this important legislation gives hope to the future health of Florida’s marine waters.
New air quality standards reject science, endanger millions
The Environmental Protection Agency finalized new national air quality standards for particle “soot” pollution in September. Under the standard recommended by EPA’s own scientists, emissions would be reduced to 25 µg/m3 per day, the level of soot pollution deemed safe to breathe in one day. The Bush administration instead chose a more industry-friendly standard, one that allows 35 µg/m3 per day.
The American Lung Association and numerous medical and public health groups had urged EPA to adopt much stricter soot limits to reduce
the number of emergency room visits caused by soot pollution.
“We are extremely disappointed in the Bush administration’s decision to turn its back on the clear scientific facts about this deadly pollutant,” said Clean Air & Energy Advocate Emily Figdor. |
