Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - June 22, 2007)

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Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Chairwoman, I rise for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with the chairwoman.

Madam Chairwoman, thank you for your leadership on this bill; In particular, for your support and leadership of the Green the Capitol Initiative, which accounts for the House's global impact on global warming.

Also, I want to thank the ranking member Mr. Wamp, Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Brady as well.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Would the gentleman yield?

Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Yes.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I would like to congratulate Mr. Welch for his initiative in moving this issue forward.

Mr. WELCH of Vermont. By making my office carbon-neutral earlier this year, my hope was to be able to take a small, but meaningful, step towards addressing the impact of my own congressional activity on global warming.

May I clarify my understanding that the committee report on the bill directs the Chief Administrative Officer to purchase carbon financial instruments to offset carbon produced by all House operations, and that these offsets will be fully transparent, verified, American, project-based offset credits?

I yield.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Yes, that's correct. As written in the report, the committee believes it is important to offset the greenhouse gases generated by the House, which is why we have directed the CAO of the House to purchase carbon offsets at the suggestion of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) and credits to successfully offset carbon produced by all House operations.

Mr. WELCH of Vermont. It's my understanding through conversations with Dan Beard, the CAO, that he has agreed to develop a plan to deliver a report to your committee in a timely fashion for accounting the balance of congressional offices' carbon footprints. This plan would expand the Green the Capitol Initiative to be inclusive of all Member official travel in district office operations.

I yield to the gentlewoman.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. It is the intent of the subcommittee to eventually encompass all House operations, including travel and district operations. I would welcome this report from Mr. Beard and encourage his recommendations on how we will offset the remaining carbon footprint of the House.

Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Thank you, Madam Chair; thank you, Ranking Member Wamp. We all really appreciate the way you have worked on this bill together. You make us all proud.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Thank you, Mr. Welch.

I look forward to working together on this important issue.

Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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