Thomas E. Petri: “for the past 30 years there has been a great debate over the true impact of greenhouse gases on global warming. There is…”

“for the past 30 years there has been a great debate over the true impact of greenhouse gases on global warming. There is now general consensus that they are having a significant impact on our planet, and it is time for us to act. That is why I am cosponsoring Congressman Tom Udall's Keep America Competitive Global Warming Act. His bill is a commonsense approach to reducing emissions. Unlike past legislative efforts that would drive industries out of our country and increase home energy bills exponentially, this bill takes into account the true costs of emission reductions. The legislation sets a reasonable standard for emissions and allows companies to buy the time they need to meet our reduction requirements without incurring irreparable financial harm. What makes this bill unique and effective is that it is flexible enough to give industry the opportunity to adapt without forcing business to drastically hike prices, lay off workers or move abroad. Greenhouse gas reduction needs to be a higher priority for this Nation. As the biggest producer of emissions, we must be a leader, a leader in demonstrating that we can reduce emissions in a meaningful way while maintaining our global competitiveness. ____________________”