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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 2, NUMBER 4, APRIL 1989

NEWS...
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION

Item #d89apr4

Over a dozen bills dealing with global warming and ozone depletion have been introduced in the 101st Congress since late January 1989. Senator Timothy Wirth (Democrat, Colorado) introduced S. 324, essentially unchanged from last year, establishing a comprehensive national energy policy to reduce greenhouse warming. (See Global Climate Change Digest, NEWS, Nov. 1989.) It seeks a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2000, and includes a wide range of provisions for energy-related research and development and domestic and international policy initiatives. Senator Albert Gore (Democrat, Tennessee) introduced new greenhouse legislation (S. 201) which he described as complementary to Wirth's. In the House, Representative Claudine Schneider (Republican, Rhode Island) reintroduced a bill from last year as H.R. 1078. It has many features in common with the Wirth legislation, but differs in relying more on government regulation than market-based incentives and voluntary programs.

Another bill from last year concerning global climate research was introduced by Senator Earnest Hollings (Democrat, South Carolina) which reappeared as S. 169. (See Global Climate Change Digest, NEWS, Oct. 1989.) Intended to set up a 10-year, interagency research and assessment program, it progressed through committee late in the last Congress but never reached the floor for discussion. An alternate 10-year research and assessment plan would be established by new legislation (S. 251) introduced by Senator Daniel Moynihan (Democrat, New York). That program would differ by being organized similar to the present National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program.

"U.S. Congress Plans Greenhouse Legislation," D. Swinbanks, Nature, p. 3, Mar. 2, 1989. Discusses the Wirth, Gore and Schneider bills, and related hearing testimony.

"Senate Hits Ground Running With Climate Change Bills," "Schneider Plans `Least-Cost' Bill..." Greenhouse Effect Rep., 13-15, Feb.

"Global Warming Bill Returns...," Air/Water Pollut. Rep., p. 67, Feb. 27. More on the Schneider bill.

"Congress Tackles Human-Induced Climate Change," Eos, 97, 105, Feb. 14. Discusses the Wirth and Gore bills and their support for global change research.

"Senators Gearing Up for Action on Greenhouse; House Less Eager," Air/Water Pollut. Rep., p. 44, Feb. 6.

"Senate Proposal Aims at Global Warming..." Intl. Environ. Rptr., p. 73, Feb. or Environ. Rptr. Curr. Devel., p. 2061, Feb. 3.