Dem Senator Expresses Concern About Climate Legislation: 'Officially Very Anxious'
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) is growing more worried about climate change legislation.
“OK, I’m now officially very anxious about climate legislation. I’ll admit I’m sensitive from the Obama climate abandonment, but I sense trouble,” Whitehouse tweeted on Monday.
He continued, “Climate has fallen out of the infrastructure discussion, as it took its bipartisanship detour. It may not return. So then what?”
1⃣ Climate has fallen out of the infrastructure discussion, as it took its bipartisanship detour. It may not return. So then what?
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) June 7, 2021
Claiming he does not see “the preparatory work for a close Senate climate vote taking place in the administration,” Whitehouse asked, “Why not marshal business support?”
Whitehouse accused corporate America of being “completely AWOL if not worse on climate in Congress.”
He added, “All the major corporate trade associations suck — all of them.”
3⃣ Corporate America is still completely AWOL if not worse on climate in Congress. All the major corporate trade associations suck — all of them.
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) June 7, 2021
He claimed groups and advocates “are quarreling — My way! No, my way! We need everything, not ‘my thing.’ Oy.”
The senator went on, “Oceans are a big part of climate and so far no significant oceans/coasts effort apparent in administration. Trying to repair that in Senate.”
5⃣ Oceans are a big part of climate and so far no significant oceans/coasts effort apparent in administration. Trying to repair that in Senate.
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) June 7, 2021
Whitehouse concluded his Twitter thread by calling for “planning, organizing and momentum. It’s not going to be easy. And it has to work. We are running out of time.”
We need planning, organizing and momentum. It’s not going to be easy. And it has to work. We are running out of time.
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) June 7, 2021
President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion American Jobs Plan includes $174 billion to boost the market for electric vehicles and move the nation from gas-powered cars, CNBC reports.
Funding would also be provided for initiatives to install half a million charging stations across the United States by 2030. The plan also includes $100 billion to make updates to the electric grid.
Millions of homes would also be retrofitted under the plan to increase energy efficiency. In addition, Biden is urging Congress to invest $35 billion in research and development for technologies to combat climate change and create jobs.
A White House official told Axios, “The President is engaged in good faith with both parties in Congress to deliver historic infrastructure investments that will drive economic growth, produce the clean technologies of the future and create good paying jobs.”
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