Climate Science Research Proposals from the 109th Congress
S.245: Abrupt Climate Change Research Act, which would establish a research program to understand, assess, and predict human-induced and natural processes of abrupt climate change.
Sponsor: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) (5 cosponsors)
S.4005: National Hurricane Research Initiative Act, which would set research objectives based on the findings of the September 29, 2006, National Science Board report entitled “Hurricane Warning: The Critical Need for National Hurricane Initiative.” This bill would require research, among other things, into the relationship between hurricanes and climate and natural ecosystems, as well as conducting studies in order to determine the most effective methods to use observational information to examine the short- and long-term impacts on ecosystems.
Sponsor: Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) (3 cosponsors)
S.Amdt.824: Abrupt Climate Change Research Program, which would establish a research program to understand, assess, and predict human-induced and natural processes of abrupt climate change. (Identical to S.245)
Sponsor: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) (4 cosponsors)
S.Amdt.839: Save Climate Scientific Credibility, Integrity, Ethics, Nonpartisanship, Consistency, and Excellence Act (Save Climate SCIENCE Act), which would require that within 48 hours after an executive agency publishes a summary, synthesis, or analysis of a scientific study on climate change that has been modified to reflect comments by the Executive Office of the President that change the meaning of the scientific or technical component of the study, the agency would disclose both the final version and the last draft version before it was modified to reflect those comments. The bill would also extend whistleblower protection for disclosure relating to interference with climate science.
Sponsor: Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) (3 cosponsors) – Action: 6/23/05: Offered as an amendment to H.R.6 (the Energy Policy Act of 2005), but ruled not germane by the chair.
H.R.5235: Environment and Public Health Restoration Act, which would have the National Academy of Sciences evaluate current and proposed clean water, clean air and forest and land management legislation for potentially harmful impacts on global climate, as well as public health, air quality, water quality, plant and animal wildlife, and the environment. The bill would also direct Federal departments and agencies to create plans to reverse those impacts that are determined to be harmful by the NAS.
Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
H.Amdt.937: Amendment to H.R.5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007, which would provide $500,000 to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a comprehensive study of the increase in demand for FEMA’s emergency response and disaster relief services as a result of weather-related disasters associated with global warming.
Sponsor: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) -- Action: 5/25/06: Not agreed to by a vote of 170 – 251.
H.Amdt.1120: Amendment to H.R.5672, the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2007, which would provide $1 million for the Secretary of Commerce to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to study which U.S. coastal population centers are most at risk from the impacts of sea level rise due to global warming.
Sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) -- Action: 6/28/06: Agreed to by House by voice vote.
Report language for H.R.5386: The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which would provide the EPA with $1 million to conduct a study of the potential health impacts of global climate change on the U.S. population.
Author: Rep. John Olver (D-MA) -- Action: 5/15/06: Agreed to by House Appropriations Committee by voice vote and included in the bill as it passed the House.
H.Res.515: Resolution requesting that the President provide the House of Representatives with certain documents in his possession relating to the anticipated effects of climate change on the coastal regions of the United States.
Sponsor: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) (150 cosponsors) – Action: 11/9/05: No amendments offered and the resolution failed on a vote of 11-16; 11/15/05: Reported adversely by the House Science Committee, H. Rept. 109-296.
H.Con.Res.199: Supporting the goals and ideals of the International Polar Year, recognizes that Polar Regions are highly sensitive to climate change and encourages the U.S. to support funding and research in these geographic areas.
Sponsor: Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
H.Con.Res.398: Resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should incorporate consideration of global warming and sea-level rise into the comprehensive conservation plans for coastal national wildlife refuges.
Sponsor: Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)