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The Center for American Progress’s “Climate Deniers” who are Promoting Climate Solutions

Below is a list of the Republican members of Congress who the Center for American Progress (CAP) labeled as “The Climate Deniers of the 117th Congress” who are actually promoting solutions to climate change.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers

“The climate is changing. Humans and global industrial activity are contributing. Thankfully, there are realistic free-market solutions that will lead us in the right direction.”(Source)

“Hydropower is one of America’s top renewable energy sources and accounts for roughly 70% of our clean energy in Washington state. Building a clean energy future doesn’t happen without prioritizing the continued development of hydroelectric energy resources. The way we solve the climate crisis is through free-market technological innovation…”(Source)

Rep. David McKinley

“Climate change is the greatest environmental and energy challenge of our time, and our government is failing to meet it.”(Source)

“Solving for climate change can’t depend upon the world reaching an agreement on how much more we’re willing to pay for cleaner energy. That’s an argument with no end in sight— and we don’t want to keep fighting about it. Instead, we can work together to adopt policies that will make clean energy technologies for all fuels affordable — solar, wind, hydro and other renewables, as well as nuclear, carbon capture for fossil fuels, energy efficiency, storage, and other technologies that will make the grid more secure, resilient, and affordable. At the same time, we can establish rational, ambitious regulations to guide their use as they become increasingly affordable.” (Source)

Rep. Mike Simpson

“I don’t know anyone here or anyone in Congress that denies the fact that climate is changing and there is an impact we need to address.”(Source)

Sen. John Barrasso

“Free-market innovation — not government regulation or taxation — is the best way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.” (Source)

Sen. Cynthia Lummis

“Those who say climate change is an existential threat are completely mistaken. We do have time to address this. We should address it.”(Source)

Rep. Kevin Brady

“We believe that the key to successfully tackling climate change is American innovation. Innovation is what made America the global energy leader, and what will make us the driving force behind clean and affordable energy as a realistic, practical solution to greenhouse gas emissions.” (Source)

“Instead of raising taxes on working families in America who can least afford it, the answer to decreasing emissions is found by empowering American innovators to create global clean energy solutions. If we want to export clean energy technologies to every corner of the globe to reduce greenhouse gases, we must remove foreign barriers to American innovators.”(Source)

Rep. Steve Womack

“This is the second opportunity we have had this year to discuss climate change. I am hopeful that we can examine common sense solutions that balance environmental challenges with our nation’s economic needs and budgetary reality. … Nuclear energy is important to both our power supply and addressing climate change … It is my hope that we can come together to support market-based solutions that make clean energy more affordable and reliable, create jobs, and address climate change challenges.” (Source)

Sen. Todd Young

“I believe the climate is changing. I believe that all flora fauna and human beings have some impact on that. I also believe fervently that we can protect our environment without wrecking our economy.”(Source)

Sen. Marco Rubio

“Climate change is causing real problems. Real problems deserve real solutions. Many of the proposed ‘fixes’ for climate change are unrealistic & dangerous.” (Source)

Rep. Gary Palmer

“I understand the climate is changing, and I think that CO2 emissions have a warming effect.”(Source)

Rep. Buddy Carter

“Climate change is real and the need to protect our environment is real. I want to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to create solutions to address climate change that are realistic, market-based and will actually have an impact on climate change. We should also be focusing on proposals that will create American jobs instead of killing them.” (Source)

Sen. Thom Thillis

“Climate change does pose real long-term challenges to our country and the rest of the world. Economic prosperity and protecting our environment are not mutually exclusive goals. I believe we can address climate change with realistic and responsible market-driven solutions that foster innovation, competition, and economic growth.”(Source)

Rep. Victoria Spartz

“We always should promote policies and innovation to have clean water, air and healthy food for our citizens. We all want a clean planet and a healthy environment for our children. There is real debate among scientists about how much climate change is natural and how much is man-made, but we need to approach the issue in a common sense way that recognizes we can balance protecting the environment and not destroying jobs and opportunity for lower and middle income Americans.” (Source)

Rep. Patrick McHenry

“Instead of voting on another political messaging bill we should focus on what Congress can actually do to address climate change. We should expand clean energy deployment to communities throughout the U.S. and pursue innovative, market-based solutions that help the environment.” (Source)

Rep. Darin LaHood

“The climate is changing and I believe humans play a role in that. There is no doubt about that. … I am supportive of a clean energy policy. What does that mean? That means clean coal, it means solar, it means wind.”(Source)

Sen. Mitch McConnell

“The question is how do you address it. … The way to do this consistent with American values and American capitalism is through technology and innovation … not to shut down your economy, throw people out of work” (Source)

Rep. Markwayne Mullin

“Republicans have proposed commonsense solutions to climate change that are good for the environment and our economy, but Democrats have continually let the most radical voices dominate the conversation.”(source)

“While investing in clean energy is an important piece of the puzzle, the wind isn’t always blowing and the sun isn’t always shining. We truly need an all-of-the-above energy strategy in order to keep the lights on at a price American families can afford.” (Source)

Rep. Billy Long

“I share your desire to reduce carbon emissions as any right-thinking person would, I would think.” (Source)

Rep. Chuck Fleishmann

“Any serious conversation about the future of America’s energy production must include nuclear energy, which accounts for 20 percent of all American energy production and 55 percent of American carbon-free-energy production.”(Source)

Rep. Bill Johnson

“What’s going to really address the climate concerns across the globe is innovation.”(Source)

Rep. Rick Allen

Nuclear energy plays an important role in Georgia’s energy portfolio, as it accounts for more than a quarter of all power generated and is the only clean-air source that can produce large amounts of electricity around the clock.”(Source)

Rep. Bill Cassidy

“What I’m just saying is, what are the practical means to address it? And the practical means to address it by the left are absurd.”(Source)

Rep. Steve Scalise

“Through a more efficient and less complex permitting process, we can more efficiently construct energy infrastructure, coastal restoration, and flood protection projects in Louisiana and across the country while still protecting our environment.”(Source)

Rep. Tracey Mann

“The ‘everything but’ position [of the Democrats] is bad for our economy, and our planet. For instance, no technology has done more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions the past two decades than fracking and natural gas. Innovations in that sector were driven entirely by the private sector, not top-down government mandates.”(Source)

Sen. Roger Marshall

“I believe advancing technology is the best path forward. As we speak, industry and governments around the world are examining carbon removal and carbon storage technologies. There are some big ideas out there—from direct air capture to genetically modified phytoplankton and giant kelp farms in the ocean that can absorb carbon dioxide. America must lead the way and partner with industry to develop innovative technologies and solutions to the problems discussed here today.” (Source)

Rep. Randy Weber

“Nuclear energy is clean, safe, and reliable. Going forward it must be a significant component of America’s energy profile, and to make that happen we need to stay ahead of the technological curve.”(Source)

Rep. Jodey Arrington

“It’s not just fossil fuels that make West Texas great; our region is home to the six largest wind farms in the United States. No other area in our country has a larger impact on this form of clean energy than West Texas. The energy produced by wind power in West Texas has the capacity to power between 2 and 3 million homes a year. Additionally, District 19 is home to the National Wind Institute at Texas Tech University.”(Source)

Rep. Don Bacon

The US has reduced carbon emissions more than next 12 countries combined through free market incentives, innovation & technology. In contrast, the Far Left want to significantly raise your airfares, gas taxes & electricity bills that hurts quality of life. We have a better way.”(Source)

Rep. Mark Amodei

“In Nevada, new sources of energy, such as geothermal and solar are showing promise. Geothermal in particular brings jobs and growth to Nevada with 20+ plants in operation providing clean, reliable electrical capacity to the grid and significant additional capacity under development.”(Source)

Rep. Andy Biggs

“The question remains: how do we balance the apparent need for fossil fuels with the call for lowering the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere?  We do that by incentivizing the creation of technologies that capture the carbon before it leaves the power station and developing innovative ways to use that captured carbon for commercial purposes.”(Source)

“Those technologies, known as carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration, or CCUS, present a win-win for America. Rather than be emitted into the atmosphere, CCUS gives us the opportunity to convert carbon dioxide into a useful commodity. Not only do these technologies allow for the continued viability of the existing fleet of fossil fuel plants, but they create the prospect for new industry sectors altogether.”(Source)

Rep. David Schweikert

“By investing in carbon capture technology, the U.S. will reduce our carbon emissions while driving economic growth and creating jobs.”(Source)

Rep. Beth Van Duyne

“Given the remarkable transformation in technology, especially here in Texas, that has allowed our country to become nearly energy independent and driven the development of more clean burning natural gas power plants, we are enjoying a period where emissions are reducing and air is cleaner. (Source)

Rep. Michael Burgess

“Nuclear power accounts for 55% of zero-emission, baseload electricity nationwide. The American nuclear industry is working to introduce new reactors that are safer, smaller and more affordable than ever.”(Source)

Rep. Morgan Griffith

“I support an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy that serves American economic and security interests. Coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar, hydropower, domestic oil, and biomass all may play a critical role in America’s energy future. The United States possesses a tremendous amount of natural resources, and we must take full advantage of all options to unlock America’s full potential.” (Source)

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.

Copyright © 2020 Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions

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