"Climate Solutions Caucus" Welcomes New GOP Member, Who Wrote Bill To Eliminate EPA

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When a freshman congressman who tried to abolish U.S. EPA joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus last week, observers — including environmentalists — expressed confusion and concern.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), like many of the caucus's GOP members, is somewhat lukewarm on climate action. He acknowledges global warming but is skeptical of the scientific consensus that humans are the primary factor driving it. Earlier this year. Gaetz introduced legislation to do away with EPA, saying the federal government is not good at conservation.

Melinda Pierce, legislative director with the Sierra Club, criticized the bipartisan caucus, saying the inaction of its Republican members has rendered it useless. "The supposed Climate Solutions Caucus is welcome to add any member they'd like — even climate deniers who propose legislation to terminate the EPA," she said in a statement. "But, until the silent half of the caucus backs up the name of the caucus with actual votes for clean energy solutions and against the fossil fuel industry, being a member will be nothing more than a line on representatives' resumes."

While caucus backers take a more moderate tone, opting for a big tent approach, greens and many Democrats say Republican fossil fuel defenders are using membership to greenwash their resumes.

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https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060067393