Rep. Huffman Votes to Pass H.R. 9, New Legislation to Keep the U.S. in the Paris Climate Agreement

May 02, 2019

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), a member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, voted to pass 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 carbon pollution. Rep. Huffman was an original cosponsor of the legislation, which passed the House of Representatives 231-190.

“It’s time to draw a line against the Trump administration’s attempts to take us backward, worsen the climate crisis, and make the United States an international laughing stock,” said Rep. Huffman. “This is the place to start because most Americans and a bipartisan majority in Congress believe we should honor the Paris Climate Agreement.  With President Trump denying reality and flouting our responsibility to future generations, it’s important that the world hear from Congress that the United States has not lost its mind or its soul on this issue.  We’re going to continue to lead, and while we have much more work to do, our forward progress starts by staying in the Paris agreement.”

Rep. Huffman, a leading voice on climate and environmental issues in the House, has helped to lead congressional efforts to reassert the American commitment to combating climate change. 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.

The text of the Climate Action Now Act can be found here.

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