{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/bicameral-climate-task-force-co-chairs-meet-with-nba-wnba-nhl-nfl-mlb-and-usoc", "Bicameral Climate Task Force Co-Chairs Meet With NBA, WNBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, and USOC", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Sheldon Whitehouse", "W000802", "www.whitehouse.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.21.13\n\t\t\t Bicameral Climate Task Force Co-Chairs Meet With NBA, WNBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, and USOC \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Lawmakers Release Climate Change Letters from the Major Sports Organizations\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, DC\u2014 Today the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change met with representatives from the NBA, WNBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, and the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to discuss the effects of climate change on these leagues and the work the organizations are doing to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.\u00a0 The members also released written responses from the leagues to the Task Force\u2019s request for views on actions the federal government could take to address climate change.  \u00a0  \u201cCongress can learn a lot about climate change from the leagues,\u201d said Rep. Henry A. Waxman.\u00a0 \u201cThey recognize the problem is real, they recognize the threat it poses to their sports, and they are acting to protect the environment.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cOur major sports organizations are taking climate change seriously and doing their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, because they know that few things define American society like the teams we cheer and the games we play,\u201d said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.\u00a0 \u201cNow it is time for Congress to set aside the polluter-fueled fantasies, and join these leagues in addressing climate change.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cWhether it\u2019s the slow death of pond hockey or increasing heat for football practices, global warming is negatively affecting the games we play and the sports we love,\u201d said Sen. Ed Markey.\u00a0 \u201cAnd just like steroids have distorted some of our sports records, carbon pollution is distorting our climate, breaking records and leading to more extreme weather. So whether you root for the Miami Heat, the Oklahoma Thunder, the Carolina Hurricanes, or any team in any sport, you should be concerned about global warming\u2019s effect on sports and the role teams and leagues have in taking action to cut pollution.\u201d  \u00a0  Highlights from the letters from the leagues released by the Task Force include:  \u00a0  \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0NBA: \u00a0The National Basketball Association supports EPA \u201cstandards to reduce the carbon pollution from electric power plants.\u201d\u00a0 The NBA also supports current action taken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to set more stringent fuel standards and additional clean energy research and development investment.\u00a0 See letter.  \u00a0  \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0NFL:\u00a0 The National Football League is engaged in a number of projects that help mitigate climate change and was \u201cthe first professional sports organization formally to assess the environmental impact of [its] marquee events.\u201d\u00a0 The NFL measures the greenhouse gas impact of the Super Bowl and uses renewable energy offsets to green its power usage and mitigate team travel emissions.\u00a0 At last year\u2019s Super Bowl, the NFL conducted solid waste management and recycling at all major Super Bowl facilities.\u00a0 See letter.  \u00a0  \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0NHL:\u00a0 The National Hockey League notes, \u201cHockey\u2019s relationship with the environment is unique.\u00a0 Our sport was born on frozen ponds, where \u2013 to this day \u2013 players of all ages and skill levels learn to skate.\u00a0 For this magnificent tradition to continue, it is imperative that we recognize the importance of maintaining the environment.\u201d\u00a0 The NHL\u2019s member clubs have pursued a range of energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally friendly initiatives, including the installation of HVAC systems and on-site renewable energy.\u00a0 See letter.  \u00a0  \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0MLB:\u00a0 Major League Baseball \u201c[recognizes its] responsibility to be part of the national effort to preserve our environment.\u201d\u00a0 Multiple MLB stadiums have adopted solar panel systems (AT&T Park in San Francisco, Chase Field in Phoenix, Fenway Park in Boston) or wind turbines (Progressive Field in Cleveland) to generate energy with a lower carbon footprint.\u00a0 Since 2008, the purchase of certified renewable energy credits also helps offset the energy use of MLB All-Star Game events.\u00a0 See letter.  \u00a0  The Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change is co-chaired by Reps. Henry A. Waxman, Bobby L. Rush, and Earl Blumenauer and Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, Ed Markey, and Ben Cardin.\u00a0 The purpose of the task force is to focus congressional and public attention on climate change and to develop effective policy responses to this urgent challenge.  \u00a0\r\n  ###  \u00a0  \u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/bicameral-climate-task-force-co-chairs-meet-with-nba-wnba-nhl-nfl-mlb-and-usoc"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.7149920351803303, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}