Governors Step Up for an Eco-friendly America

Growing impatient with the slow progress of Congress, a number of United States governors have taken a step in advertising the importance of energy and global warming. Three of the United States' western governors will be appearing on a TV ad beginning this Monday to sponsor awareness of environmental issues and the importance of taking the steps to improve conditions. Featured in this ad will be Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican of California; Jon Huntsman Jr., Republican of Utah; and Brian Schweitzer, Democrat of Montana. Nine other governors of the Midwest have also taken steps by agreeing to reduce carbon emissions and set up a treading system to meet reduction targets. These goals were modeled after similar ones in the Northeastern, Southeastern, and West Coast states. Among those goals, carbon-reduction and preserving energy are the main concern. The Lieberman-Warner legislation, now before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, would provide incentives for research on capturing and storing carbon dioxide from power plants. Also, this action bill help the poor handle the higher costs of electricity in a carbon-constrained economy. It is hopeful this bill will be brought to the full committee for a vote, but so far no date has been scheduled. For now, state leaders are taking action to reduce climate-changing emissions while Congress continues to put off passing any significant law on climate change or energy.

The United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has been responsible for a number of things in the years since its establishment in 1837. It has overseen construction done to the U.S. Capitol building and grounds, been responsible for the development of the interstate highway system, and improved flood control. The Committee has passed acts including the Clean Air Act of 1970 and Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972. These two accomplishments brought much recognition to the committee and it was further assigned jurisdiction over endangered species, fish and wildlife refugees programs, and the regulation of nonmilitary nuclear power in 1977.