Sen. Dianne Feinstein is expected to vote in favor of the Kerry-Boxer climate bill. In a November 2009 letter to a Grist reader, she doesn’t explicitly endorse the bill, but she does say it “represents an important step”:
Dear [Constituent]:
Thank you for writing to express your views about the “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.” I share your support for taking strong action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
Climate change has already begun to change the world as we know it. Eight of the Earth’s nine warmest years on record have occurred since 2001, and these rising temperatures are shrinking snow packs and glaciers, changing patterns of drought and flooding, and increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires. I agree that the United States must take meaningful action to prevent catastrophic climate change and mitigate its impact. The urgency is unmistakable.
On September 30, 2009, Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act” (S. 1733), which sets a greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050, authorizes funding for domestic and international climate adaptation efforts, and invests in the infrastructure and workforce necessary to make a permanent shift toward low-carbon, renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. This comprehensive climate bill represents an important step toward achieving meaningful greenhouse gas reductions, mitigating the public health and environmental impacts of climate change, increasing our energy security, and achieving long-term economic growth.
Please know that I remain committed to working to advance measures that address climate change, create jobs and increase our energy independence. I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind should S. 1733, or similar climate legislation, be considered by the full Senate in the 111th Congress.
Again, thank you for writing. If you have further questions or comments, please contact my office in Washington, D.C. at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein United States Senator
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