Legislative Correpsondence_Climate Security Act 2007CLIMATE
COMMUNITIES
May 29, 2008
The Honorable Charles E. Grassley
U.S. Senate
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
RE: Support the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act and Provide Resources for
Local Government Climate Change Action
Dear Senator Grassley:
On behalf of local elected leaders across Iowa, we write to urge your support the Lieberman-
Warner Climate Security Act of 2007. We also request your support to make sure the legislation
provides direct resources for local government actions that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions, such as cleaner transportation, green buildings, renewable energy, and sustainable
development.
Climate change is a critical global challenge that could lead to an increasing number of droughts,
greater risk of wildfires, more flooding, rising sea levels, and other severe weather events. By
addressing the climate challenge, America can help achieve some of its most important national
objectives -energy independence and national security, economic competitiveness and job
creation, protection of public health and the environment, and sustainable community
development.
The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act would create a market-based system to
substantially reduce GHG emissions by 2050. This important legislation will achieve significant
GHG reductions from electric power, transportation, manufacturing, and natural gas sources
through a "cap-and-trade" system that harnesses the incentives of the free market to reduce
pollution. The bill system is modeled closely on America's successful efforts to address acid
rain.
In April 2008, local government leaders from more than 40 communities met with Senators
Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT) and John Warner (R-VA), the sponsors of
the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, to demonstrate the essential role of local
governments in using cleaner transportation, green buildings, alternative energy, and sustainable
development to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the impacts of climate change.
During a press conference with Climate Communities members, Senators Boxer, Lieberman and
Warner publicly pledged to amend their legislation to provide federal resources for climate
actions at the local government level.
Local government action is critical to addressing America's climate change challenge. Cities
and counties have the ability to promote, encourage and lead the effort to reduce GHG pollution.
Localities are uniquely suited to implement land use planning, building codes, infrastructure
improvements, green technology, sustainable economic development and other local actions that
must underlie climate change progress. Local governments are also the first responders to the
impacts of climate change. It is local governments that must take the lead in dealing with
drought, water shortages, wildfires, flooding, rising sea levels, infrastructure disruption, and
other impacts of climate change.
Mayors from more than 800 cities have signed the Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement
pledging to take actions in their communities to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets for
reductions in GHG emissions. Approximately 30 counties representing over 35 million people
have joined Cool Counties and pledged to reduce GHG emissions by 80 percent by the year
2050.
However, communities are only in the early stages of confronting the climate challenge, and
there is a critical need for capacity building at the local level to handle the substantial technical,
institutional, and organizational issues that are involved in establishing and implementing local
climate change programs.
Senators Boxer, Lieberman and Warner have amended their legislation to provide significant
federal resources to help cities and counties reduce GHG emissions. Their manager's
amendment provides $136 billion through 2050 for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Block Grant program, which would enable cities and counties to enact strategies that reduce
fossil fuel emissions, cut total energy use, and improve energy efficiency. The bill also dedicates
significant resources for local mass transit projects.
Again, we encourage you to support the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act and ensure that
the legislation supports local government efforts to reduce GHG emissions. We look forward to
working with you to develop an effective local-federal partnership to address climate change.
Climate Communities is a national coalition of cities and counties that is educating federal
policymakers about the essential role of local governments in addressing climate change.
Climate Communities is advocating for significant new federal resources to support local actions
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For more information about Climate Communities, contact
Andrew Seth at (202) 454-3922 or aseth@tfgnet.com
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
May Roy D. Buol
City of Dubuque
(waiting for signature)
Mayor Jim L. Fausett
City of Coralville
Mayor William E. Gluba
City of Davenport
(waiting for signature)
Mayor Kay Halloran
City of Cedar Rapids
(waiting for signature)
Supervisor Linda Langston
Linn County
Supervisor Jane Halliburton
Story County
(waiting for signature)
Supervisor Pat Harney
Johnson County