[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 35 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1281-S1282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 386--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
UNITED STATES SHOULD ESTABLISH A GOAL OF MORE THAN 50 PERCENT CLEAN AND 
 CARBON-FREE ELECTRICITY BY 2030 TO AVOID THE WORST IMPACTS OF CLIMATE 
 CHANGE, GROW THE ECONOMY, INCREASE SHARED PROSPERITY, IMPROVE PUBLIC 
    HEALTH, AND PRESERVE THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Schumer, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Coons, Mr. Wyden, 
Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
Udall, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Franken, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Schatz, Ms. Warren, 
Mr. King, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Carper) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources:

                              S. Res. 386

       Whereas failing to act on climate change will have a 
     devastating impact on the United States economy, costing 
     billions of dollars in lost gross domestic product;
       Whereas extreme weather, intensified by climate change, has 
     already cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year in 
     recovery efforts and the amount will continue to grow if 
     climate change is not addressed;
       Whereas decreased economic growth and increased costs of 
     infrastructure repairs and other recovery efforts due to 
     climate change will significantly increase the budget deficit 
     and undermine the fiscal stability of the United States;
       Whereas climate change will have devastating public health 
     implications, including--
       (1) increased rates of asthma and other respiratory 
     diseases, especially in vulnerable

[[Page S1282]]

     populations, including children and low income communities;
       (2) the spread of infectious diseases;
       (3) risks to food and water supplies; and
       (4) an increased number of premature deaths;
       Whereas inaction on climate change will disproportionately 
     impact communities of color and exacerbate economic 
     inequalities;
       Whereas the Secretary of Defense has identified climate 
     change as a threat multiplier that will increase global 
     instability and conflict;
       Whereas the transition to a clean energy economy is 
     feasible with existing technology; and
       Whereas the transition to clean energy will--
       (1) create millions of jobs;
       (2) increase--
          (A) the gross domestic product of the United States; and
          (B) household income;
       (3) save--
          (A) billions of dollars in avoidable health costs; and
          (B) lives and improve public health;
       (4) lower energy bills for businesses and consumers;
       (5) help the United States achieve the international 
     emissions reduction goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 
     to 26 to 28 percent of 2005 levels by 2025; and
       (6) unlock billions of dollars in private investment: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     United States should--
       (1) establish a national goal of more than 50 percent clean 
     and carbon-free electricity by 2030; and
       (2) enact legislation to accelerate the transition to clean 
     energy to meet that goal.

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