Democrats scramble to lock in climate spending before potential political shift threatens Biden’s green agenda.
At a Glance
- 54 Democratic lawmakers urge Biden to secure climate funding before leaving office
- Effort aims to protect climate initiatives from potential Republican dismantling
- Strategy involves embedding funds in existing legislation to complicate redirection
- Republicans divided on approach to Biden’s climate law, with some supporting parts of it
- Biden administration touts progress in clean energy investments and manufacturing
Democrats Push to Safeguard Climate Funding
In a bold move that underscores the deep political divide on climate policy, 54 Democratic lawmakers have called on President Joe Biden to take decisive action to protect billions in climate funding. The group, which includes prominent figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey, is pressing the administration to disburse and embed climate-related funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) before Biden’s term ends. This strategy aims to make it significantly harder for a potential Republican-led government to redirect these resources without congressional approval.
The urgency behind this push stems from concerns about the upcoming presidential election and its potential impact on U.S. climate efforts. With former President Donald Trump threatening to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement again if re-elected, Democrats are working overtime to secure what they view as critical climate investments.
Republican Response and Clean Energy Boom
While some Republicans, including Trump, have expressed intentions to dismantle Biden’s climate law, the situation is more nuanced than it appears. The IRA has driven a significant clean energy boom in the U.S., with tax credits incentivizing low-carbon energy projects. This economic boost has led some GOP members to support preserving parts of the law, especially in red states benefiting from these investments.
Ali Zaidi, White House climate adviser, has highlighted the administration’s efforts to secure clean energy investments despite GOP opposition. The Treasury Department is working diligently to implement these policies before the end of Biden’s term, with significant progress in awarding grant dollars.
Democratic Strategy and Potential Challenges
The letter from Democratic lawmakers emphasizes the need to prevent future politicization of climate programs by expediting the disbursement of funds across various federal agencies. This includes the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Treasury, EPA, NOAA, and the Postal Service.
However, even if Biden acts on these requests, dismantling the Inflation Reduction Act may prove challenging due to the GOP’s slim majority and some Republicans’ support for certain tax credits. The Biden administration has already announced support for over 23,000 climate-focused conservation contracts and plans to grant $19.5 billion for climate-smart agriculture and forestry.
The Road Ahead
As the political battle over climate funding intensifies, the outcome remains uncertain. The Biden administration’s focus on executing what they call “the largest climate investment in history” has led to significant progress in clean energy manufacturing and deployment. However, the looming threat of a potential shift in power has Democrats working frantically to secure these gains.
