Murkowski comment on conclusion of Copenhagen conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding the nonbinding climate deal agreed to by President Obama in Copenhagen.
"Much has been made of the Senate majority's failure to prioritize a climate bill ahead of the negotiations in Copenhagen, but the past two weeks have made clear that domestic legislation will not resolve the full range of fundamental, international disagreements," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. "Emissions cuts and reporting commitments from countries around the world cannot be advanced by the U.S. Congress, and any sum of money that America is capable of providing to developing nations will probably be rejected as too small by its would-be recipients."
"I want the President, the people of Alaska, and my colleagues in the Senate to know that I stand ready to work on climate legislation," Murkowski continued. "But given the difficulty in developing a new international treaty, this matter must be addressed in a way that strengthens our economy and bolsters our energy security. Our climate policy needs to stand on its own because it is the right approach for our country, regardless of the actions other nations do, or do not, take."
The president can demonstrate his dedication to doing something positive about climate change and America's energy security by prioritizing full Senate passage in the new year of the energy bill approved back in June by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowski said.
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