Carper, Coons Introduce Bill to Rescind President Trump’s Anti-Climate Executive Order

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Chris Coons (D-Del.), joined 31 of their Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to rescind President Trump’s Executive Order that abandons U.S. initiatives to combat climate change and critical resiliency efforts to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

“Yesterday, President Trump chose to ignore clear science and shirk our country’s responsibility to address the greatest environmental challenge of our time,” said Senator Carper. “This extreme and reckless Executive Order leaves states, cities and businesses to deal with the damaging effects of climate change on their own. Delawareans see the impacts of our changing climate every day, but we can’t address this growing threat alone and we certainly can’t afford to do nothing. This order is irrational, and I will keep fighting it every step of the way.”

“Climate change is one of the most important challenges facing our nation and the world,” said Senator Coons. “Delaware is already seeing some of the impacts of climate change as the lowest mean elevation state in the country, but our state is  also supporting clean energy policies and innovation approaches to respond to the challenge. We must act quickly to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not allow the progress made over the last two decades be stripped away. I am happy to join 32 of my colleagues in support of the Clean Air Healthy Kids Act, which will block federal agencies from implementing the actions outlined in President Trump’s shortsighted ‘Energy Independence’ Executive Order.”

The Clean Air Healthy Kids Act would block federal agencies from implementing the actions outlined in President Trump’s ‘Energy Independence’ Executive Order that was signed yesterday. These actions include reevaluating the landmark Clean Power Plan, which is currently on track to provide $54 billion in climate and health benefits each year, prevent thousands of premature deaths and asthma attacks in children, reduce electricity bills for homes and businesses, and create thousands of good-paying jobs. 

The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Bennet, Blumenthal, Booker, Cardin, Cortez-Mastro, Durbin, Feinstein, Franken, Gillibrand, Harris, Hassan, Heinrich, Hirono, Klobuchar, Leahy, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Murphy, Murray, Nelson, Reed, Sanders, Schatz, Schumer, Shaheen, Udall, Van Hollen, Warren, Whitehouse and Wyden.

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