Pelosi names members to climate panel
By ANTHONY ADRAGNA 02/07/2019 09:45 AM EST
Speaker Nancy Pelosi built out the Democratic roster for her special select panel on climate change, pulling from a mix of old and new lawmakers but leaving off the highest profile freshmen like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
The names, which arrive on the same day as the proposal for the lofty Green New Deal lands on Capitol Hill, further boosts energy behind Democratic efforts to bring climate change to forefront of their agenda.
"This new Select Committee will spearhead Democrats’ work to develop innovative, effective solutions to prevent and reverse the climate crisis,” Pelosi said in a statement. "It will generate the energy and action required to permanently reduce pollution so that we can honor our responsibility to be good stewards of the planet for future generations."
The Democratic members of the panel are Reps. Ben Ray Luján (N.M.), Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.), Julia Brownley (Calif.), Sean Casten (Ill.), Jared Huffman (Calif.), Mike Levin (Calif.), Donald McEachin (Va.) and Joe Neguse (Colo.).
Rep. Kathy Castor (Fla.) will chair the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, which Pelosi reestablished this Congress.
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https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/07/pelosi-climate-change-panel-1154847
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Why not??? 
What a thing to be part of, and what an incredible learning experience this will be. This class won't be spending the next 2 years mostly watching helplessly while Republicans rape the nation.
2. It's too bad Nancy chose to leave AOC, one of the most vocal members on climate change out. nt
All I'm saying is, when it comes to Nancy Pelosi, there are many (here and elsewhere) who are much too hasty and quick to carelessly pass judgement without knowing all the facts, and that's a mistake that only makes themselves look foolish.
I would be embarrassed.
Nothing Nancy does is an accident. She is measured in her tone and in her deeds. Read thoroughly and thou shall be rewarded with facts. Amen.
Why would anyone want to smear Nancy Pelosi with lies like that? The truth is easily available for anyone to see.
What good purpose does it serve to spread false information when the truth is already known? Why would anyone allow their false post to remain without being edited/corrected or simply "self-deleted"?
These are valid questions that deserve honest answers.
Last edited Thu Feb 7, 2019, 12:55 PM - Edit history (1)
and green economy.
Suzanne Bonamici has been a climate activist for years in and out of congress, but including several years in congress on the science committee and environment subcommittee. She's co-chair of both the Oceans caucus and the estuary caucus.
Similar for Julia Brownley. Seems like she's been on almost every related committee we've had and brings a great deal of interrelated experience and knowledge to this one.
Sean Casten's already well known in his red district as a climate hawk scientist and clean energy entrepreneur. He beat out an incumbent who called climate change "junk science." 
As typical for a lot of outsiders, he was skeptical of a committee to address climate change, but as we see he's now agreed this is something he should be part of.
Jared Huffman is another longtime climate activist who brings leadership experience on climate and environment related committees.
Mike Levin is another climate hawk activist from our freshman class. He brings expertise as a clean, renewable energy entrepreneur and climate lobbyist. ""If we think about the integration of solar and wind and storage and other renewables, waste to energy, where eventually they will become 100 percent of our energy mix, it will be a massive economic opportunity," Levin told local news station KPBS. "Now what we need is a supportive federal government." And here he is.
Donald McEachin moved from VA state government, where he co founded VA's Environmental and Climate Justice Task Force, to congress in 2017. He recently introduced the PARIS Climate Act.
Joe Neguse is another long-time climate activist, cofounder of New Era Colorado, an NPO dedicated to climate and clean energy issues.
Kathy Castor of course brings years of experience in environmental issues in in Florida and the kind of expertise and leadership one would expect of the person Nancy chose to restart her Climate Crisis Committee, which the Republicans shut down when they took power.
People wonder that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez wasn't named, but she doesn't have a background in the requisite environmental, climate, and energy issues, while all those who were picked have been very involved for years and bring expertise she simply does not have at this point. Something for her to work toward if she chooses.
be able to make big advances if we get control, courtesy of very compelling need. We should. Without massive corruption we might already have control, and that was in a year when the Republicans had far fewer seats to defend and the senate was their fortress.
Itm, it is encouraging to know this fully loaded house committee will be working closely with their counterparts in the senate, who just need the green light of power.
Hortensis.
The Committee is loaded with dedicated people!