Democratic and Republican lawmakers had predictably mixed reactions to the Climate Action Plan announced by President Obama in late June.
The plan, which the President unveiled during a June 25 speech in Washington, aims to reduce U.S. carbon emissions, prepare the U.S. for climate change impacts, and lead international efforts to fight climate change. The section on preparing for climate change impacts includes several initiatives to address impacts on water resources, such as creating a cross-agency National Drought Resilience Partnership help communities address drought, develop adaptation strategies, and boost regional climate research. The plan also directs EPA to “integrate considerations of climate change impacts and adaptive measures into … its Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.”
Among the notable reactions from Capitol Hill was that of Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), whocalled it “imperative to help states and localities prepare” for the impacts of climate change. Capps is the sponsor of the “Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act” (H.R. 765), an AMWA-backed bill to help local communities adapt their water and wastewater infrastructure to changing hydrological conditions, and which Capps cited as a partial inspiration for Obama’s adaptation proposals.
Also supporting the President’s plan was Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who had previously announced plans to consider emissions-reduction legislation later this year. In a statement, Boxer applauded Obama for “using all of the tools in his toolbox” to respond to climate change.
In contrast, Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso criticized Obama’s proposal as a “national energy tax” and promised to offer the Climate Action Plan as an amendment to future Senate legislation in order to provide an “opportunity to have every senator on record” on the proposal.