Confronting the climate crisis and creating a clean energy economy

In Northwest Oregon, the warming ocean, droughts, extreme weather events, wildfires, and hazardous smoke increasingly threaten our environment, economy, and public health. I’m proud of our work to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history. This transformative bill supports an equitable transition to renewable energy and creates good paying jobs in emerging industries. Congress must continue to take meaningful action to confront the climate crisis, which is exacerbating social, racial, and economic inequalities.

For four years I served on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, which was tasked with producing a bold, comprehensive, science-based Climate Action Plan to achieve net-zero emissions no later than mid-century and net-negative thereafter. Our Climate Action Plan includes more than 500 pages of detailed, science-based policy recommendations that cover each sector of the economy and serves as a roadmap for Congress. Investing in a clean energy economy will continue to support good jobs, build more resilient communities, and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

I have long been an environmental leader in Congress. I served as the top Democrat on the Environment Subcommittee in the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and I continue to serve as co-chair of both the bipartisan Oceans Caucus and the bipartisan Estuary Caucus. I’ve also championed legislation to help capture the power of the ocean as a way to reduce carbon pollution and I’ve secured additional funding and resources for NOAA to address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia that plague the Oregon coast and other bodies of water across the country. I’ve been a leader in cleaning up marine debris by leading the bipartisan Save our Seas Act, which was signed into law in 2018, and updates to the law, including the bipartisan Save Our Seas Act 2.0 Amendments Act, which the House passed in spring of 2024.

The climate crisis is an existential threat and a national emergency, and I will continue to fight for meaningful and effective policies to reduce emissions and protect our planet for generations to come.