In her June vote, North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik sided with her majority colleagues to block the plan
For Immediate Release: December 1, 2015
Stefanik’s Opportunity to Correct Course on Climate Science
Congress Prepares Another Attack on Clean Power Plan, Clean Air Act
Albany – The U.S. House of Representatives is preparing to vote a second time since June today to stall climate action and clean air protections, advancing even more extreme legislation that no New York member of Congress can justify supporting.
In her June vote, North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik sided with her majority colleagues to block the plan, even as papers like the Glens Falls Post Star and Adirondack Daily Enterprise noted such a stance was against the interests of her constituents. In September, however, Stefanik joined Rep. Chris Gibson (the only New York Republican to support climate science and vote no originally) on a resolution that states climate change is man-made and requires bold action, saying, “Climate change is a serious issue that we must address and I am proud to join Congressman Gibson on this resolution.”
The following statement is attributable to Peter Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates NY:
“The new iteration of this effort is far more extreme than what was voted on in June, and would not only immediately nullify the Clean Power Plan, but actually prevent further action until Congress specifically directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a climate plan. This is Rep. Stefanik’s opportunity to prove to her constituents that she means what she says on climate by opposing the dangerous bill sponsored by her colleague from Kentucky.
New Yorkers have been the victim of pollution from western coal and fossil fuel plants for decades. The Adirondacks and our waterways have suffered as a result of acid rain. This legislation is as bad as it gets, attacks the very integrity of the Clean Air Act, and blocks efforts by the EPA to require other states to meet the same standards New York has through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Right now, world leaders are convening in Paris to discuss global climate action. Meanwhile, our own Congress wants to thwart progress. Rep. Stefanik was wrong in her first vote. No New Yorker can justify, in good conscience, their support of this extreme effort. Her support of Rep. Gibson’s resolution offers her the chance to align her rhetoric with her voting record. We urge Rep. Stefanik to correct course and do what’s best for her constituents by opposing S.J. Res 23 and S.J. Res 24.”
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