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Writer's pictureAlex Kawa

House Advances Climate Change Infrastructure Bill, But What About Dissenters?


Earlier this month, House Democrats introduced the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion dollar infrastructure bill, which they described as their "biggest legislative effort to fight climate change." The plan would "make real the promise of building infrastructure in a green and resilient way," says Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). According to Rebecca Beitsch of The Hill:

"The infrastructure bill, known as the Moving Forward Act, includes $25 billion for drinking water, $100 billion for broadband, $70 billion for clean energy projects, $100 billion for low income schools, $30 billion to upgrade hospitals, $100 billion in funding for public housing and $25 billion for the postal service. But its largest component is a $500 billion Democrat-led bill from the House Transportation Committee that has sparked Republican complaints of exclusion.
"Tensions on the Transportation Committee have flared largely over the green measures included in the bill, which requires states to account for climate change before undertaking projects and also requires states to meet certain greenhouse gas emission goals when they receive funding.
"'Those who don't believe in climate change, tough luck. We're going to deal with it,' Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said."

On Tuesday, the House voted 222-183 to allow debate on the bill. Although the vote was mostly partisan, four Democrats -- Reps. Stephanie Murphy of Florida, Jared Golden of Maine, Kendra Horn of Oklahoma, and Ben McAdams of Utah -- voted with Republicans against enabling debate on it. As it turns out, three of them have taken PAC money from the oil and gas industry, including two who have taken a significant sum:


Horn: $13,500

McAdams: $22,000

Although he has not taken oil and gas PAC money directly, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's (D-MD) AmeriPAC: The Fund for a Greater America has contributed $10,000 to Golden, as the leadership PAC has raked in $5,000 from oil and gas PAC money. Why is this important? Well, as mentioned above, the centerpiece of this infrastructure package is combating climate change, so it stands to reason that the industry would oppose such a large-scale project, and the money these Democrats have taken from them indicate which side they are on in the long run in the fight against the climate crisis.

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