As congressional leaders look toward the August recess, it is an important time to take stock of what’s been accomplished in the last seven months and to set our course for the days ahead. With Democrats at the helm this year, we set ambitious goals for the 110th Congress. And we’ve seen one of the busiest and most productive Congressional sessions in recent memory.

The work of the Committee on Energy and Commerce reflects this vigorous schedule. To date, the committee has conducted 72 legislative hearings and 14 markups. Compare this with last year’s committee activity, which, in the same period, consisted of just 46 hearings and 12 markups. The upsurge is most obvious when examining the work of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, which has held 18 hearings, nearly five times last year’s amount.

This increase can largely be attributed to several critical objectives that the committee put forward even before this session began. Chief among them is our intention to address the problem of global climate change with policy solutions that are fair, effective and passable. And we’re well on our way to accomplishing this.

Recently, the committee approved legislation to require 43 separate efficiency standards for appliances, buildings, and other consumer products. When fully implemented, they will reduce carbon emissions by 8.6 billion tons, an amount equal to the annual emissions of every car on the road today.

Additionally, this legislation includes provisions aimed at protecting the health of our environment and the strength of our economy. These new policies will enhance the reliability and economy of our national electric grid, encourage projects that reduce or sequester greenhouse gases, establish a grant program to make renewable fuels more available, and support the development and production of advanced plug-in hybrids.

I am proud to support these legislative remedies. And I’m grateful to my colleagues on the committee who have worked hard, and across party lines, to develop them. These policies will start us on a path toward developing a broad, bipartisan energy bill that Congress can approve, industry and environmental groups can live with, and the president can sign. They’re an important initial step. And, this fall, I plan to move forward even further.

I am looking forward to addressing other critical energy issues. We will need to consider such matters as motor vehicles and fuels, the role of nuclear power, the proper responsibilities of the states and of the federal government, the future of coal under carbon constraints, our relationship to international climate change programs, the effectiveness of a cap-and-trade program and a carbon emission fee, and many more difficult, complex, and challenging but fascinating problems.

One thing, however, is already clear: This Congress must determine the best way to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.

Accomplishing this in a way that secures our future, preserves economic opportunity and protects our natural environment will require inviting more experts, advocates and leaders to the discussion table. My goal is a reduction in CO2 emissions of 60 to 80 percent by 2050. And I plan to do so with a bill that does not place unfair burdens on one single group, industry or community.

It won’t be easy, but I’m confident that my committee colleagues and I will continue to work together to develop the legislative solutions we need.  It will require continued diligence and compromise. But we’re building on a strong foundation of achievements, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Superfund, and, though it required 13 years of careful negotiation, the remarkably successful Clean Air Act.

When it comes to addressing the problem of climate change, we don’t have 13 years. But we do have several months left in this congressional session. And we will not squander the opportunity before us.


Dingell is the chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.