Congresswoman Schakowsky Co-Sponsors the Climate Action Now Act

Congresswoman Schakowsky Co-Sponsors the Climate Action Now Act

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Vice Chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force, co-sponsored H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, House Democrats’ new legislation that would require the United States to remain in the Paris Climate Accord and to develop a serious plan for how the United States will meet its commitment to reduce pollution.

“In countless communities throughout Illinois and across the country we are already seeing the devastating effects of climate change on our coasts, our forests, our farmland and through extreme weather patterns and ever-more destructive natural disasters. Combating climate change is critical for protecting the people and places we love. For Democrats, combatting the climate crisis is a moral imperative that compels us to act to create a clean energy economy that can provide good-paying jobs to millions of Americans, cleaner air for everyone and a safe, sustainable future for our children and grandchildren to grow and thrive.

“My constituents know the threat of climate change is real, and that the Trump Administration is failing in its responsibly to protect all Americans from its impacts. We should be leading the world in this effort, not contributing to the problem. What we are seeing out of President Trump is pure negligence and dereliction of duty.”

The Climate Action Now Act would prohibit any federal funds from being used to take any action to advance the withdrawal of the U.S. from the landmark Paris Agreement. It also calls on the President to develop and make public a plan for how the United States will meet our commitment to reduce pollution. Despite the President’s unilateral declaration withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement and his refusal to take the threat of the climate crisis seriously, the United States remains obligated to uphold our commitments to our global partners and to future generations.

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