Bill ensures that the United States honors commitments detailed in the Paris Agreement
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) voted in favor of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act., which passed the House today. The bill aims to ensure the United States honors our commitments detailed in the Paris Agreement and lays the groundwork for further climate action.
“Climate change is real, it’s in our backyard, and our communities and businesses are paying the price,” said Phillips. “In Minnesota we have rising temperatures, more extreme storms, and more intense flooding due to climate change. The President’s decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement was shortsighted and wrong. I was proud to join my colleagues in the House today to lead on this issue, and pass legislation that would recommit the United States to the Agreement. I urge the Senate to join us, and put our nation on the right side of history.”
Earlier today, Rep. Phillips voiced his support for the bill on the House Floor.
Minnesota’s cities, farms, and forests have already been impacted by climate change, and the state is projected to get warmer, which will likely lead to an increase in droughts.
On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement – making the U.S. the only country to reject the global pact. But the earliest date the U.S. could withdraw from the Paris Agreement is early November 2020, and until that time, the U.S. is obligated to uphold our commitments under the agreement.
The Climate Action Now Act would prohibit any federal funds from being used to take any action to advance the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. The bill also calls on the President to develop and make public a plan for how the United States will meet the pollution reduction goals submitted to the world in 2015.
By 5 to 1, Americans say we should stay in the Paris Climate Agreement, including majorities in every state and an overwhelming majority of Americans support cutting carbon pollution. More than 2,000 businesses and investors, 280 cities and counties and 23 states, including Minnesota, have independently pledged to meet our commitment under the Paris climate agreement.