Climate Solutions Caucus
The Climate Solutions Caucus is a bipartisan caucus of U.S. legislators supported by the Citizens' Climate Lobby whose members work to achieve action addressing the risks from climate change. The House of Representatives and Senate each have a caucus.[3] The House caucus was founded in February 2016, during the 114th Congress, by Representatives Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL).[3] The Senate Caucus was founded in 2019 by Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Chris Coons (D-DE).[4]
Climate Solutions Caucus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Co-Chairs | Ted Deutch (D) Francis Rooney (R) |
| Founded | February 8, 2016 |
| Ideology | Centrism[1] |
| Political position | Center[2] |
| Seats in the House Democratic Caucus | 41 / 233 |
| Seats in the House Republican Caucus | 24 / 197 |
| Seats in the House | 65 / 431
|
| Seats in the Senate Democratic Caucus | 4 / 47 |
| Seats in the Senate Republican Caucus | 4 / 53 |
| Seats in the Senate | 8 / 100
|
| Website | |
| teddeutch | |
On November 27, 2018, House caucus members Ted Deutch (D-FL), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and John Delaney (D-MD) introduced the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (HR 7173), which would implement a national carbon fee and dividend.[5]
The 2018 midterm elections illustrated a growing partisan divide over climate, and several incumbent Republican members of the Caucus lost their seats. One study concluded that this showed limited value for GOP members in pursuing bipartisan climate action.[6]
Mission
According to Co-Chair Deutch's House website, the mission of the Caucus in the House is:
"to educate members on economically-viable options to reduce climate risk and to explore bipartisan policy options that address the impacts, causes, and challenges of our changing climate."[7]
House Members, 116th Congress
Membership of the caucus was previously restricted to consist of equal representation of Republicans and Democrats,[7] but after the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections, this rule was loosened.[8] In the 116th Congress, the 65 members are as follows:[3]
Senate Members, 116th Congress
The Senate Climate Solutions Caucus was announced by Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Chris Coons (D-DE) on October 23, 2019.[9] The two Senators wrote in an op-ed announcing the caucus:
"Today, we are launching the Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, a bipartisan group of senators who, like the Americans we serve, believe Congress should play a central role in guiding America’s 21st century energy economy and addressing the challenge of a changing climate. Our caucus seeks to take the politics out of this important issue. Instead, members will commit to an honest dialogue, through which we can develop solutions that solidify American environmental leadership, promote American workers, and make meaningful progress on protecting our environment."[10]
The Climate Solutions Caucus in the Senate is bi-partisan, the rules of the caucus require that new members may only join with a member of the opposite party to ensure that the number of Democrats and Republicans stays the same. All actions by the caucus require unanimous agreement among the members. The caucus membership for the 116th Congress is as follows (independent Angus King (I-ME) caucuses with the Democrats):
| Name | Party | State |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Braun (co-chair) | Republican | Indiana |
| Chris Coons (co-chair) | Democratic | Delaware |
| Angus King | Independent | Maine |
| Debbie Stabenow | Democratic | Michigan |
| Jeanne Shaheen | Democratic | New Hampshire |
| Lindsey Graham | Republican | South Carolina |
| Lisa Murkowski | Republican | Alaska |
| Marco Rubio | Republican | Florida |
| Mitt Romney | Republican | Utah |
| Michael Bennet | Democratic | Colorado |
| Susan Collins | Republican | Maine |
| Tammy Baldwin | Democratic | Wisconsin |
| Rob Portman | Republican | Ohio |
| Jacky Rosen | Democratic | Nevada |
References
- "The Energy 202: Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus tries to find footing in new political reality". The Washington Post. June 21, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- "These bipartisan bills provide hope for addressing climate change". The Gainesville Times. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- "The Climate Solutions Caucus". Citizens' Climate Lobby. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- Beitsch, Rebecca (2019-11-06). "Bipartisan Senate climate caucus grows by six members". The Hill. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- "Bipartisan carbon fee bill introduced in House - Citizens' Climate Lobby". citizensclimatelobby.org. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- Karol, David (2019). Red, green, and blue: the partisan divide on environmental issues. Cambridge University Press. p. 74. ISBN 9781108716499.
- "Climate Solutions Caucus". Office of Congressman Ted Deutch. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
- "CCL welcomes relaunch of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House". Citizens' Climate Lobby. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
- "Senators launch bipartisan climate change initiative". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
- Jordan, Chuck (2019-10-23). "New Senate caucus will seek bipartisan solutions to address the climate challenge". TheHill. Retrieved 2020-01-04.