Cabinet secretaries and Obama administration officials testified on global climate change, focusing on the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act- sponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry. The legislation would cut carbon pollution and create clean energy jobs. This was the first of several Energy and Public Works hearings on global climate change legislation.
Senator Kerry, the first witness, in his remarks said, “America’s leadership is on the line,” and said the costs of doing nothing to combat global warming are more than increases in energy costs. He talked about what other countries are doing to cut emissions. Secretary Chu stressed that capping carbon emissions “will drive investment decisions toward clean energy.”