WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation commented Wednesday on a climate change agreement President Barack Obama announced with China.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today issued the following statement on the climate agreement reached between President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“I look forward to reviewing the details of the climate agreement between President Obama and Chinese leaders and assessing what the true implications will be on the front lines here at home. As I’ve said many times before, there is no question that 7 billion people have an impact on our climate. I am encouraged that the Chinese are willing to come to the table and that the Administration has recognized the importance of investing in research for clean fossil fuel technology. That being said, we cannot enter into an agreement that asks little of the Chinese, while simultaneously promising more than we can achieve domestically with our current technology.”
Rep. David B. McKinley (R-WV) issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s announcement of an agreement with China to address climate change by reducing carbon emissions:
“Last week, President Obama’s policies – chief among them excessive regulations – were soundly rejected by voters across the country. Yet this agreement with China shows that Obama didn’t learn a lesson from what happened last week.
“Entering into an agreement that he knows will never be ratified by the Senate shows that the President will continue to circumvent Congress and act alone by issuing regulations and directives that will cost jobs, increase electricity costs, and put our economy at risk.
“We’ve seen what happened in previous climate agreements like Kyoto, Copenhagen, and Doha – China doesn’t live up to its end of the bargain. This latest agreement offers specific carbon reductions for America to hit before 2025 and a vague agreement for China to slow down its carbon emissions after 2030 without a specific requirement to reduce them. This is a recipe for economic disaster that will make America less competitive and cost jobs.
“America plays by the rules and will have to live up to our end of the deal – causing hardship for American workers and consumers in the process. What’s to guarantee China will hold up their end of the bargain? China’s record on trade, currency manipulation, and cyber theft don’t exactly lead me to believe they will play by the rules. What are the repercussions if China does not fulfill its obligations?
“Agreeing to a one-sided deal that will cost American jobs is not good for our country. We should not put our economy at risk for the sake of the President’s ideology, which is not supported by Congress.”
U.S. Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) issued the following statement today on President Obama’s climate agreement with China:
“President Obama’s climate deal with China would force the United States to compete in the global economy with one arm tied behind our backs. While our coal plants close, our utility bills skyrocket, and our manufacturing jobs are shipped overseas, our Chinese competitors would not have to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions until 2030. This agreement would give China another 16 years of unlimited greenhouse gas emission growth while imposing strict limits on the United States.
“If America is to act on climate regulations, then we should do so on the same terms as our foreign competitors. I have introduced legislation that would block U.S. greenhouse gas rules until major foreign emitter nations subject themselves to the same standards. A similar principal is reflected in the Byrd-Hagel resolution that passed the Senate unanimously in 1997. Forcing the United States to abide by more stringent regulations than our competitors will hinder our ability to keep and create good jobs for all Americans.”