An overview of the impact of the elections on the environment

[JudyM]

From Earthjustice:

"The biggest change we'll see in the 110th Congress is the new faces chairing important environmental committees. Under Republican rule, many of the most vital Congressional committees were chaired by anti-environmental heavyweights. For instance, Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) made it his mission as chair of the powerful House Resources Committee to try to pass legislation gutting the Endangered Species Act (ESA)... When Congress comes back in January, Rep. Pombo will be gone, a victim of his own anti-environmental policies, having lost to a wind-energy consultant, Jerry McNerney. Unlike most House races this year, Rep. Pombo's was primarily about the environment and his extreme approach to it.

In Pombo's place at the head of the House Resources Committee will be a long-time environmental champion, Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), Rep. Rahall has already spoken out regarding his priorities as the new chairman of House Resources, pledging to protect "right-to-know" laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), promote natural resource conservation, end public land giveaways under the 1872 Mining Law, and clean up abandoned coal mines. We can also expect the House Resources Committee to begin real oversight of the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act, with special attention to the abuse of science by agencies such as the Department of Interior.

Also tackling the undermining of credible science by the Bush administration will be Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), the new chair of the House Committee on Government Reform. Rep. Waxman introduced a bill this Congress aiming to end the politicization of science, and is likely to launch additional investigations into the Bush administration's misuse of science and undermining of federal safeguards for public health and the environment.

In the Senate, the chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee will move from Sen. James "global warming is a hoax" Inhofe (R-OK) to environmental champion Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Under Sen. Boxer, there will be no more legislative attempts to gut NEPA or the ESA, and global warming will finally get the attention it deserves.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will move from one New Mexican to another: from Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) to an ardent conservationist, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). Under Sen. Bingaman, proposals to drill the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be off the table in favor of energy efficiency, biofuels, and a national renewable energy portfolio..."

More...: http://www.earthjustice.org/news/view_hill/page.jsp?itemID=29258026

Whew! And not a moment too soon.
:patriot: :applause: :woohoo:

[caseycoon]

1. WONDERFUL!

Imagine... Environmentalists to be in charge of protecting the environment!

After the last 6 years it seems like a strange concept! I can't believe those idiots! I think * has a list of people who can do the most harm in all positions & makes sure that's who gets put in charge of them.

It will change now!!
:woohoo: