Citing the need to pursue intelligent, progressive ideas for sustaining the nation’s environmental resources, U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) on Earth Day joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.
“My state, our nation and our world are blessed with an abundance of resources and natural beauty, and it is our responsibility to be good stewards of creation. Maintaining this gift demands smart, forward-looking solutions,” said Rep. Hultgren, who serves on the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Rep. Hultgren, who has consistently supported increased fiscal federalism and allowing local communities to make decisions in their own best interests, said his Illinois constituents “have shown they want new, innovative solutions and more choices in the energy they consume.” For example, the City of St. Charles, Ill., teamed with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency to deploy solar energy, he said.
The Climate Solutions Caucus now has 74 members divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats with the April 22 addition of Rep. Hultgren, who joined the caucus with U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO).
Established by U.S. Reps. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL), who serve as co-chairs, the Climate Solutions Caucus aims to flesh out and advance bipartisan policies that provide economically viable solutions to climate risks. The lawmakers have stipulated that membership must be equally represented by both parties, requiring members of the U.S. House of Representatives to join in pairs.
“I look forward to my continued work with Rep. Perlmutter and others on the caucus to ensure our national labs are working well and open to the public,” said Rep. Hultgren, referring to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories and Technology Centers located around the country working to advance science and technology.
“In the last Congress, we worked together to get legislation out of the House to modernize the labs and make it easier to get new technologies out to the market, and that will be a priority of mine on the Climate Solutions Caucus,” Hultgren added.
One of the DOE labs, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), is located in Perlmutter’s district in Golden, Colo., where he said it serves as a local economic engine and as “the world’s premier lab for energy efficiency and developing clean and renewable energy technologies.”
“National labs like NREL play an important role in supporting American technological innovation and advancing energy efficiency measures,” Rep. Perlmutter said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues, like Rep. Hultgren, as part of this caucus as we continue to pursue clean energy policies to reduce the serious threat of climate change.”
The Climate Solutions Caucus has grown rapidly during the last year, according to Rep. Curbelo, who last July said the increased membership demonstrates that there’s “a growing, diverse and bipartisan coalition of members of Congress ready to put petty politics aside and find meaningful solutions to the challenges posed by sea level rise and climate change.”