Deutch: $3.5 Trillion Resolution Will Take "Aggressive Action" on Climate

Senate Democrats have unveiled a new $3.5 trillion budget resolution to address climate concerns. Previously, Democrats had supported the “Green New Deal,” which received some pushback from both Republicans and Democrats. On Twitter, Florida Rep. Ted Deutch (D) championed the effort, calling it a plan that will take "aggressive action" on tackling climate issues and responding to the Biden Administration’s concerns.

Democrats are pursuing “a Clean Electricity Standard (CES) in the reconciliation bill aimed at meeting Biden’s goal of achieving 100% carbon-free power by 2035.”

Most recently, Democrats introduced the “INVEST in America Act or the Transportation Inflation Act.” Many Republicans criticized the bill with Florida Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R) arguing “that the vast majority of spending contained within the INVEST Act centers around pushing unpopular, liberal policy  proposals – such as the Green New Deal.”

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith (D) who co-authored the CES bill in 2019 commented that “getting it included in the budget package sends a strong signal we are committed to tackling climate change.” “I will continue to work hard on getting a CES done because we cannot squander this moment,” Smith added, noting that “we can either lead or follow when it comes to the clean energy transition, and I want us to lead.”

Deutch shared the announcement on his Twitter page, praising the plan and commenting that there are “really promising reports from the Senate that their budget resolution will take aggressive action to reduce one of the most harmful GHGs by placing a price on methane emissions – a similar plan to my ‘Methane Emissions Reduction Act.’”