Senator Collins Leads Bipartisan Group of Senators to Urge Administration's Support for Congressional Action to Reverse Threat of Global Warming

SENATOR COLLINS LEADS BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS TO URGE ADMINISTRATION'S SUPPORT FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO REVERSE THREAT OF GLOBAL WARMING

In a bipartisan letter, 40 Senators today urged President Bush to support congressional efforts to reverse the threats posed by global warming, adding that "Leading U.S. scientists now warn that we must begin reducing global warming pollution from today's levels within 10 years in order to avoid the worst effects of global warming."

In the letter to the president, spearheaded by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), the senators wrote: "Last year, the resolution passed by the Senate called on Congress to enact a national program of mandatory limits on global warming pollution that slows, stops, and reverses emissions. We believe we should begin acting now to reduce emissions from current levels within 10 years. U.S. action on global warming is long overdue. As we consider legislation to address global warming, we urge you to provide leadership on this critical issue by supporting our effort."

Senator Susan Collins said, "Scientists are finding clearer and clearer evidence that the climate is changing and that we are contributing to that change. Last year a majority of senators supported mandatory emission controls; I believe that the White House should do the same."

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