Sens. Looney, Duff, Cohen React to EPA Repealing Greenhouse Gas Findings

HARTFORD — Today, Senate President Martin Looney, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff and State Senator Christine Cohen, Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee, responded to news that the Trump Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) repealed a finding that determined greenhouse gases pose a public health risk, thus reducing the agency’s ability to regulate harmful emissions.

Despite overwhelming agreement in the scientific community that the climate is warming, and greenhouse gases are significant contributors, this move by the EPA represents a rejection of both settled science and the foundation for many climate rules under the Clean Air Act.

“The effects of burning fossil fuels on climate change are settled science. The Trump regime is once again politicizing the government to push an anti-science agenda and line the pockets of ultra-rich donors,” said Senators Looney and Duff.

They continued, “In Connecticut, we believe in science, and we want clean air, land, and water for our children and grandchildren. While Donald Trump wages his absurd war on windmills and scientific facts, we’ll keep fighting to deliver what our constituents actually care about. This regime’s reckless dismantling of environmental protections is a betrayal of America’s once-proud leadership on climate change.”

“The people of Connecticut expect state and local leaders to speak out when the federal government tramples on our values. We ask once again for Connecticut Republicans to join us in standing up. Unfortunately, we expect more silence and deflections while the Trump regime continues its chaos and destruction,” Senators Looney and Duff concluded.

“Make no mistake, Donald Trump intends to continue to use his elected position to allow the fossil fuel industry to get even richer, while directly putting at risk American’s health, worsening the climate crisis and leaving us completely ill prepared to manage the effects of climate change,” said Senator Cohen. “It will take time for these effects to be felt, but we do not have time to waste. We need to be making decisive and profound steps to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, slow climate change and prepare our communities for severe weather events, sea level rise and a warming climate. I am committed to continuing to do so here in Connecticut, but this is the greatest threat of our generation and the United States must be part of the global solution.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193