March 30, 2017

Van Hollen Introduces Bill to Rescind President’s Anti-Climate Executive Order

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Michael Bennet and 30 U.S. Senators today in the introduction of legislation to rescind President Trump's Executive Order to reverse several landmark U.S. initiatives to combat climate change.

"Climate change is harming our economy, our health and our environment -- but the Trump Administration is turning a blind eye to the clear and present danger it poses. Americans are already paying the price in the form of destruction to property and higher taxes to respond to the devastation from more frequent and intense weather events. Rather than ignore the threat, President Trump should seize the opportunity to generate more good paying, home grown jobs by promoting clean energy. The health and prosperity of all Americans is at risk - as are Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and communities along our coastlines.We must fight back, and this legislation would put a halt to President Trump's policies that reward polluters at the expense of public health and Maryland jobs."

The bill, titled the Clean Air, Healthy Kids Act, would block federal agencies from implementing the actions outlined in the Executive Order signed Tuesday by President Trump. These actions include reevaluating the 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 following Senators cosponsored this legislation:

Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Ben Cardin (D-MD)

Tom Carper (D-DE)

Chris Coons (D-DE)

Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)

Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Al Franken (D-MN)

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Kamala Harris (D-CA)

Maggie Hassan (D-NH)

Martin Heinrich (D-NM)

Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Edward Markey (D-MA)

Bob Menendez (D-NJ)

Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Chris Murphy (D-CT)

Patty Murray (D-WA)

Bill Nelson (D-FL)

Jack Reed (D-RI)

Bernie Sanders (D-VT)

Brian Schatz (D-HI)

Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

Tom Udall (D-NM)

Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Click HERE for a copy of the bill.