HARTFORD—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and a number of their colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to support and expand programs such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a collaborative effort across the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont to use market-based tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, so states like Connecticut can continue to find innovative ways to cap and reduce greenhouse emissions. This legislation helps the federal government and states combat the impending climate crisis and leave our planet in a better place for future generations,” said Murphy.

“Federal agencies should follow Connecticut’s lead – taking urgent action to combat emissions threatening our planet’s survival. Connecticut was a founder of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – a model that has proven successful in addressing climate change goals. States cannot succeed alone,” said Blumenthal. “The federal government must be a more effective, aggressive partner in this effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2019 would establish an office at the Environmental Protection Agency to support the establishment of new regional greenhouse gas reduction programs and expand existing programs. This bipartisan legislation is cosponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), all of whom represent states currently participating in RGGI, as well as Bob Casey (D-PA), whose state has taken steps recently to join the initiative.

The bipartisan Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act would establish, within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an Office of Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs. This office would provide analysis and technical assistance to help establish new regional greenhouse gas reduction programs, expand existing programs such as RGGI and the Western Climate Initiative, and support states that are already members of such programs. The bill would also provide grants for state and local governments to take preliminary steps toward developing or participating in a regional greenhouse gas reduction program.

To read the one-pager on the bipartisan Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, click here.

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