Harry Reid: “Senators Brownback and Corzine have offered an amendment No. 3239 to the underlying bill which replaces the mandatory…”

“Senators Brownback and Corzine have offered an amendment No. 3239 to the underlying bill which replaces the mandatory greenhouse gas reporting requirement in the underlying bill with a ``hard trigger.'' That means emissions reporting will continue to be voluntary for at least the next 5 years, but if voluntary reports don't add up to at least 60 percent of total emissions at the end of 5 years, then mandatory reporting will be triggered. I think this is a sound approach. I applaud the Senators for working together to come up with a reasonable compromise between voluntary and mandatory. This amendment is an important step forward in promoting the development of emissions trading markets and market-based programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”