Legislation that would boost America's role as a global leader in addressing climate change was introduced in the Senate.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, N.J. and nine Senate Democrats are sponsoring the proposed U.S. CLIMATE Act that is designed to weave climate policy into all aspects of U.S. foreign affairs.
A summary of the legislation said that the benefits of clean energy technology and other climate risk mitigation efforts "can only be realized if the U.S. actively reasserts itself as a global climate action leader. It is entirely possible, and essential to U.S. economic and national security interests, for the U.S. to make up quickly for the lost time — and the U.S. CLIMATE Act provides the legal foundations for reasserting U.S. climate leadership."
A Foreign Relations Committee release Thursday said that the proposed legislation would bolster White House actions by giving Congress a stronger role. The White House is hosting an international climate change summit April 22-23.
"The U.S. CLIMATE Act represents an important step forward in ensuring Congress does its part in providing resources, programs and policy to expedite the restoration of our nation's climate diplomacy and leadership," Mr. Menendez said in the statement.
