Incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tapped a Florida Democrat with a strong record on environmental advocacy to lead her new Committee on Climate Crisis, reviving a 2007 committee that focused on energy independence and global warming.
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) will head the special climate committee, Pelosi said in a statement on Friday, confirming reports that she planned to make use of the House’s new pro-environment majority and examine climate change.
“Congresswoman Castor is a proven champion for public health and green infrastructure, who deeply understands the scope and seriousness of this threat,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Her decades of experience in this fight, both in Florida and in the Congress, where she has been an outstanding leader on the Energy and Commerce Committee and on the House Democratic Environmental Message Team, will be vital.”
As the Atlantic noted, the Climate Crisis committee won’t have the authority to draft legislation and it likely won’t have quite the same subpoena power as her previous Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which was dissolved when Republicans took back control of the House in 2010.
The formation of a committee focused on the climate crisis was one of Pelosi’s 2018 campaign promises, but it is unclear what all the committee will do. Several environment-focused members of the Democratic caucus — who have pushed for a Green New Deal committee — have expressed concern that the committee won’t go far enough to combat climate change or to create a unified climate policy for Democrats.
So it is a toothless committee for the most pressing issue of our time. Way to go, Nancy!
This is a start. At least to have a committee that explores what can be done and gets some attention after all the negative head-in-the-sand crap about climate change denial. No, things aren’t going to be changed in 2 years but at least it’s a start to talking about the issue, again.
Appointing someone with a track record and strong advocacy. It is an important start to fill a huge void created by Republicans and likely will move quickly and decisively if there is strong support in congress.
There are laws governing congressional committee structure. Pelosi is awesome, but she is not above the law or a wizard. Gotta start somewhere. Smile, bucko!
Nancy knows how easily the starving are placated by a few crumbs thrown under the table.
There are House rules, not laws. They can be changed. Nancy Pelosi could get the Committee both subpoena power and the power to draft legislation if she wanted them to have it.
Maybe she eventually will.