Jon Kyl: “in 1997, the Senate unanimously passed the Byrd-Hagel resolution that stated that the Senate would reject any climate…”

“in 1997, the Senate unanimously passed the Byrd-Hagel resolution that stated that the Senate would reject any climate agreement that did not mandate ``new specific scheduled commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions for Developing Country Parties within the same compliance period'' as the United States or that ``would result in serious harm to the economy of the United States.'' The Kyoto Protocol failed to meet these conditions, and consequently, President Clinton never submitted the protocol for Senate ratification, nor has President Bush. The initiative before us, The Climate Stewardship Act of 2003, also fails to comply with the Byrd-Hagel resolution. First, it unilaterally commits the United States to carbon emissions restrictions, and second, it puts into place the regulatory structure for future carbon dioxide emissions reductions. This initiative represents the first phase in a long-term effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that would ultimately inflict serious harm on the U.S. economy. There is no need at this time to go down that path.”