Amendment that says climate change is occurring fails in House

The House rejected a Democratic amendment Wednesday that would have put the chamber on record backing the widely held scientific view that global warming is occurring and humans are a major cause.

Lawmakers voted 184-240 against Rep. Henry Waxman’s (D-Calif.) amendment to a GOP-led bill that would strip the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate greenhouse gases.

The amendment from Waxman — the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee — reflects Democratic efforts to cast the bill as an outrageous trampling of scientific consensus.

But senior Republicans — and some Democrats — seeking to block the rules say the bill is aimed at what they allege will be the negative economic effects of climate rules.

Waxman’s failed amendment stated:

“Congress accepts the scientific findings of the Environmental Protection Agency that climate changes is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for public health and welfare.” It was co-sponsored by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).

The underlying bill, sponsored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), is expected to pass Thursday.