The Passing of the ACES Act in Committee!

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) just passed through the House Energy and Commerce Committee!!!

To the left are some news articles that will explain what it is a bit more, but let me try to explain why this was and is so important to Oxfam. This Act is a sweeping resolution, the first energy and climate bill to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives. It aims to reduce Climate Changing Carbon emissions globally. Though, the percentage of reduction is not as much as environmentalists were hoping for, it is a wonderful first step. Another part of the legislation, a part that helps people affected by climate change immediately, is the allocation of 1% ($750 million per year) of the revenue raised to the International Climate Change Adaptation Program. The original (and needed) amount to go to this fund was 7%, though.

This program would finally put the U.S.A. back on track to being a part of the international environmental community. The funds from this program would go to helping developing communities adapt to changes in their climates. These are changes that we, in America, are so far buffered against.

We at Oxfam Action Corps Columbus would like to thank Representatives Betty Sutton and Zack Space. They are the two Ohioans who were in the position to either help or hinder this monumental piece of legislation and they both voted "yes"! Now, if they could only persuade some other Ohioan congress members to do the same when this goes to the Agriculture and Ways and Means Committees.......