{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/bicameral-task-force-on-climate-change-applauds-administrations-new-nepa-guidance", "Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change Applauds Administration’s New NEPA Guidance", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Sheldon Whitehouse", "W000802", "www.whitehouse.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.14\n\t\t\t Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change Applauds Administration\u2019s New NEPA Guidance \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today the White House Council on Environmental Quality reissued its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Guidance on Consideration of the Effects of Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.\u00a0 Under the proposed guidance, federal agencies would assess greenhouse gas emissions associated with proposed federal actions that are subject to NEPA review.\r\nLast year, the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change encouraged the Administration to finalize its NEPA guidance as part of a set of recommendations about how best to implement the President\u2019s Climate Action Plan.\u00a0 In a white paper issued to the Department of Interior the Task Force wrote, \u201cEstimating the greenhouse gas effects of projects undergoing NEPA review will help the federal government and public understand the full range of impacts associated with energy development on federal lands.\u201d\u00a0\r\nToday the Task Force\u2019s members are applauding the reissuance and once again calling for the guidance to be finalized.\r\n\u201cThis is a big step forward.\u00a0 Agency heads and the public will now be informed about the climate consequences of federal decisions,\u201d said Rep. Henry A. Waxman.\u00a0 \u201cThis is another milestone in implementing the President's Climate Action Plan.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe effects of climate change on our communities and on public health is serious, and should always be considered when we evaluate major federal projects,\u201d said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.\u00a0 \u201cI thank the White House for issuing this proposed guidance today, and I hope it will be finalized and implemented in the near future.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe National Environmental Protection Act is one of our nation\u2019s most important policy tools for ensuring the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of our environment,\u201d said incoming Bicameral Task Force Co-Chair Congressman Chris Van Hollen.\u00a0 \u201cAs we accelerate our efforts to meet the world\u2019s growing climate challenge, it\u2019s critical that an analysis of greenhouse gas impacts become a standard feature of NEPA review.\u00a0 Today\u2019s proposed guidance from the White House in this area is most welcome.\u201d\r\n\u201cPublic health and our economic security are intertwined with how we address the very real threats from climate change. The federal government should continue to be a leader in setting standards for reducing greenhouse gas pollution. Considering scientific research before proceeding with federal projects, is the right thing to do,\u201d said Sen. Ben Cardin.\r\n\u201cAs America enters into a New Energy Renaissance, it is important to make sure that we have in place safeguards that will protect our land, air, and water,\u201d said Rep. Bobby L. Rush.\u00a0 \u201cI continue to applaud the White House for the steps that it is taking to ensure a safe and clean environmental future for generations to come.\u201d\r\n\u201cIf you accept modern science, you cannot deny that climate change is happening.\u00a0 It\u2019s already affecting our communities and will have extremely serious impacts going forward,\u201d said Rep. Earl Blumenauer.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s critically important that the federal government consider greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts of federal projects as part of a larger strategy to address climate change. I applaud the draft plan released today and look forward to its future implementation.\u201d\r\nThe Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change, founded in January 2013, focuses on drawing congressional and public attention to climate change and developing effective policy responses to this urgent challenge.\u00a0 The current co-chairs are Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. Bobby L. Rush, Sen. Ben Cardin, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and Sen. Ed Markey.\u00a0 Rep. Van Hollen is an incoming co-chair, taking Rep. Waxman\u2019s place starting in January.\r\n###\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-task-force-on-climate-change-applauds-administrations-new-nepa-guidance"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4184070751070976, "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"}