Rep. Huffman, House Democrats Introduce H.R. 9, New Legislation to Keep the U.S. in the Paris Climate Agreement

March 27, 2019

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) joined Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor (FL-14) and other leading lawmakers in introducing H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, to require the Trump administration to remain in the Paris climate agreement and to develop a serious plan for how the United States will meet its commitment to reduce pollution.

“Californians know that the impacts of climate change are all too real, and all too urgent. I have communities in my district who are still rebuilding from devastating wildfires, and others are reeling from historic floods this year, made worse by a changing climate,” said Rep. Huffman. “The President has refused to lead on climate change, so Congress must act. Staying in the Paris climate agreement is critical, and it’s just the starting point in our work to address the greatest moral, economic, and environmental imperative of our time.”

Rep. Huffman, a leading voice on climate and environmental issues and a member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, has helped to lead congressional efforts to reassert the American commitment to combating climate change. Last month, he introduced the bipartisan “Still-In Resolution,” a House Concurrent Resolution affirming Congress’ intent to remain in the Paris agreement. That legislation now has nearly seventy bipartisan cosponsors.

On December 12, 2015, nearly 200 countries, including the United States, China, India and the European Union, signed the landmark Paris agreement to combat climate change. The central aim of the agreement was for the nations of the world to work together to keep the global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 °F) and to attempt to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 °F).

On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement – making our country the only one to reject the global pact.

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 earliest the United States can legally withdraw from the agreement is November 2020.

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 its national commitment to reduce carbon pollution. The bill number of “H.R. 9” is reserved for use by the Speaker of the House, indicating the high priority placed on the legislation.

Text of the Climate Action Now Act can be found here.

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