Senate GOP Cares So Much About Climate It Blocked Planned Bipartisan Cmte; All-D Panel Formed

A day after a vote on the Green New Deal overwhelmingly failed in the Senate, Democrats signaled they plan to continue pushing for action on climate change on Wednesday with the formation of a Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. The group of 10 senators formed the unofficial panel after Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., blocked a resolution to create an official, bipartisan panel on Tuesday before the Green New Deal vote, which Democrats called a "political stunt" by Republicans.

"The committee could be partners with the House committee, and we might actually get something done, not sham votes that everyone knows are a joke, a political joke. And so I am hopeful we can do that," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the floor of the Senate before the resolution was struck down.

Special committees are often investigative in nature, rather than legislative. The special committee's purpose is "to examine how climate change is affecting the country and the planet and to mobilize action and support for bold climate solutions," according to its website.

It will hold a series of hearings through 2020 and investigate efforts by special interest groups to foster climate change denial. It will also convene meetings and conduct outreach to communities impacted by climate change. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii will serve as chairman of the panel.

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https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2019-03-27/senate-democrats-form-special-committee-on-climate-change?int=98f508