Wilson, Udall ‘Targeted’ by Sportsmen to Support Climate Bills
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Albuquerque, NM – Wildlife and sporting advocates nationwide are "setting their sights" on the "Final 50." These 50 members of Congress, including two from New Mexico, are key to passing what the advocates call "meaningful global warming legislation." They're asking Reps. Heather Wilson and Tom Udall to cosponsor bills that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2 percent per year.
Kent Salazar with the New Mexico Wildlife Federation says the organization's members would like to see Wilson, in particular, back up her words with votes.
"She has made statements like, 'We need balanced, long-term energy policy with energy independence to preserve the beautiful land we have,' but she has failed to act to sign on to any of these global warming bills."
Udall has sponsored unsuccessful climate change legislation in the past, but he, too, has yet to sign on as a cosponsor of either of two bills that would set significant annual goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
So far, the "Safe Climate Act" in the Senate has 131 co-sponsors. The "Climate Stewardship Act" has 146 of the 218 co-sponsors needed to guarantee a majority in the House.
Salazar says life in New Mexico will only get harder if global warming pollution continues to increase.
"We'll see an increase in temperatures, which will further exacerbate our water conditions here in New Mexico and affect our wildlife. A good portion of our state's economy depends on outdoor recreation and sports."
The bills are H.R. 1590, the Safe Climate Act, and H.R. 620, the Climate Stewardship Act.
