Press Releases
House Democratic Leaders On Climate Reject Trump’s Decision To Retreat From US Leadership, Withdraw From Paris Agreement
Washington,
June 1, 2017
Reps. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Don Beyer (D-VA), co-chairs of the Congressional Safe Climate Caucus, today denounced the decision by the Trump White House to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. “Pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Change Accord is not leadership. It is an act of cowardice,” said Rep. Lowenthal (D-CA). “The Trump administration has a blatant disregard for the truth and is determined to turn the misleading claims and tired talking points of a handful of billionaires and their lobbyists into pro-polluter policy. Pulling out of the Paris Accord will have long lasting negative impacts on the health, safety, and prosperity of our families.” Departure from the Paris Agreement would make the United States one of only three nations not participating in the international plan to fight climate change. The others are Syria and Nicaragua. “Trump’s decision will be a self-inflicted wound on our allies’ trust in American leadership,” said Rep. Beyer (D-VA). “The Paris Agreement was a vision reflecting decisive action, hope, ingenuity, and the ideals with which we would define our country’s place in the world. Withdrawal from that agreement represents a triumph of ignorance, nativism, and political pandering, and the message it sends to other countries will be disastrous for the relationships which have built and sustained our prosperity.” The House Safe Climate Caucus was formed in 2009 to raise awareness both within Congress and with the public about the many ways climate change is affecting the world. It has 52 Members, including co-chairs Lowenthal and Beyer. |