House lawmakers agree there is 'scientific concern' about climate

The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved an amendment to a bill to permanently block Environmental Protection Agency climate rules that says there is “scientific concern over warming of the climate system.”

The “sense of Congress” amendment, offered by Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah), passed on a voice vote.

Passage of the amendment comes after Republicans rejected three amendments offered by Democrats on climate science. The amendments called on lawmakers to agree that climate change is occurring, it’s caused in large part by human beings and is a danger to public health and welfare.

The Matheson amendment also says that the United States “has a role to play in resolving global climate change matters on an international basis.” Congress, the amendment says, “should develop a policy that addresses this role.”

Full committee ranking member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) criticized Republicans for supporting the Matheson amendment without supporting the other climate science amendments.

“[Climate change] exists enough to have ‘scientific concern.’ Alright, at least we have that,” Waxman said. “If that’s the best you can do, I find it somewhat lame. But better lame than nothing.”