The U.S. House today takes up a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill that U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s 1st District says incorporates important climate change goals laid out by a special House committee.
Pingree says the climate report sets broad goals to address pollution reduction, and that the infrastructure bill seeks to help meet those goals by making investments in roads and bridges, housing, schools and broadband.
“We are going to have to spend money to deal with the climate crisis, and let’s to it in a way that will stimulate the economy but looks forward into green energy jobs,” she says.
Pingree acknowledges that the Democratic-backed legislation will face significant opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate. The White House this week condemned the measure as favoring urban areas over rural America, and President Donald Trump has threatened a veto.
