Landmark legislation to reduce US greenhouse-gas emissions advanced through a key committee on 21 May in the face of staunch Republican opposition.rnThe House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee approved the legislation on a 33-25 vote, with 4 Democrats voting against and 1 Republican, Mary Bono Mack (California), voting aye. The bill would employ a cap-and-trade system to reduce US greenhouse-gas emissions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and upwards of 80% below by mid-century.rnCommittee chairman Henry Waxman (California) crafted the bill with fellow Democrat Edward Markey (Massachusetts). With President Barack Obama advocating aggressive action on global warming, this is the first time lawmakers have struck a deal that could actually become law.
展开▼
