[CTC] E&E: GOP adds rider blocking climate action to fast-track bill

[Fred Heutte]

GOP adds rider blocking climate action to fast-track bill 

Daniel Bush, E&E reporter

Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 

The House Rules Committee added a provision late yesterday aimed at
blocking action on climate change to trade bills moving toward final
passage this week.

Attached to H.R. 1890, the "fast-track" trade promotion authority
bill, the amendment would bar the United States from addressing the
issue of climate change in future trade deals.

The rider stipulates that trade agreements would "not require changes
to U.S. law or obligate the United States with respect to global
warming or climate change," according to a copy of the text.

Green groups said the climate rider could force Democrats to choose
between handing the president a major victory and standing up for
environmental issues.

"This is a sneak attack. The same Republicans that are endangering
our future by denying the reality of climate disruption are now
sneaking anti-climate language into the fast-track trade bill," Ilana
Solomon, director of the Sierra Club's Responsible Trade Program,
said in an email.

Solomon added, "members of Congress who care about our air, water,
and climate must vote no to fast track."

The Rules Committee approved the amendment last night as the House
inches closer to bringing the trade package to the floor for a final
vote.

Republican leaders said earlier today that a vote would take place
Friday, but it could be pushed back to next week if GOP leaders don't
have enough votes by the end of the week to pass the bill.

A majority of Democrats remain opposed to the fast-track bill, which
the Obama administration needs to clinch a massive trade deal with 11
Asian countries.