Yesterday, President Obama announced the finalization of America’s Clean Power Plan, the biggest step we’ve ever taken to combat climate change. This plan sets the first-ever carbon pollution standards for power plants, while providing states and utilities with the flexibility they need to meet those standards.

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The Clean Power Plan: Myths and Facts

Just because this common-sense proposal will have huge benefits for hard-working Americans across the country, doesn’t mean some people won’t spread misinformation and launch false attacks. We’re setting the record straight.

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The President Speaks at the YALI 2015 Summit

Yesterday, President Obama delivered remarks at the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Washington Fellowship Presidential Summit.

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By CAP Action War Room

The Obama Administration Formally Releases The U.S.’s Strongest Action Ever To Combat Climate Change

Undeniably, the climate is changing and human activity is causing it. Today, President Obama released a finalized version of the Clean Power Plan, a first-of-its-kind plan to cut carbon pollution from the nation’s power plants. The Clean Power Plan is the most ambitious action yet taken in the United States to slow global warming, and is a key part of the president’s strategy in the global fight against climate change. A draft version of the plan was released last summer and the final version responds to more than 4.3 million comments from states, utilities, communities, and more. Here are a few key things to know about the finalized rule:

• 40 percent: Carbon-dioxide pollution is the leading contributor to climate change and power plants produce the largest amount of carbon-dioxide emissions in the United States, making up about 40 percent of all carbon pollution in the country.

• 32 percent: Under the finalized version of the Clean Power Plan, states will be required to reduce carbon pollution by 32 percent from 2005 levels—a nine percent increase from the previous target.

• $93 billion: The projected benefits far outweigh the costs of implementing the plan. The Clean Power Plan will lead to climate and health benefits of up to $93 billion by 2030.

• $85: The average American family will see annual savings of $85 on their energy bill in 2030, and between 2020 and 2030 consumers will save a total of $155 billion.

• 3,600: By 2030, the reduction in power plant pollution will prevent up to 3,600 premature deaths a year.

• 870 million: When the Clean Power Plan is fully in place in 2030, there will be 870 million tons less carbon pollution—that is the equivalent of the annual emissions of more than 166 million cars, or 70 percent of cars in the country.

The EPA has the legal authority to regulate carbon pollution because of the danger it poses to public health and the environment. The finalized plan offers an opportunity for each state to take a leading role in how it meets carbon reduction and renewable energy targets. “We’ll reward states that take actions sooner, rather than later, because time is not on our side,” Obama said at a press conference earlier today.

Unsurprisingly, the rule has been met with much criticism from conservatives. Promises of non-compliance and lawsuits challenging the rule have been flowing consistently since the draft rule was released more than a year ago. One of the chief conservative complaints against the law is that it will raise energy prices and kill jobs—two things that just aren’t true: a recent report by Georgia Tech last week found that the Clean Energy Plan will lower energy bills, and several studies project a net increases of tens of thousands jobs across the country.

BOTTOM LINE: The Clean Power Plan is more than just an initiative. It is a responsibility. It is the path forward to a cleaner, safer, and healthier country and is the greatest action on climate change ever taken in American history.

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The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, August 4, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Democrats controlling the final half. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.754, Cybersecurity.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly conference meetings.

As a reminder, during Monday’s session Senator McConnell moved to proceed to S.754, Cybersecurity, and filed cloture on the motion. Unless an agreement can be reached, the cloture vote would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Wednesday, August 5.

No Roll Call Votes

Legislative Business

Passed H.R.1138, Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act.

Passed Calendar #159, S.1297: U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act.

Passed S.267: General of the Army Omar Bradley Property Transfer Act of 2015.

Adopted S.Res.232, expressing the sense of the Senate that August 30, 2015, be observed as “1890 Land-Grant Institutions Quasquicentennial Recognition Day”.

No Executive Business

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Last Floor Action:8/4
12:06:56 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn.

The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on August 7, 2015 unless it sooner receives a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 72, in which case the House stands adjourned pursuant to that resolution.

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