Washington, D.C. — Today, Congress passed a significant year-end legislative package that includes reauthorization of energy innovation programs, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, and the Weatherization Assistance Program, along with a version of the American Innovation in Manufacturing Act that includes a significant phase-down of potent greenhouse gases called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and the extension of vital tax credits for clean energy. In response to the inclusion of these energy-specific authorizations in the spending bill, Center for American Progress founder and Chair of the Board John Podesta and Senior Vice President for Energy and Environment Policy Christy Goldfuss released the following statement:
Congress took major action to fight climate change by supporting a phase-out of super pollutants like HFCs. This legislation alone could avoid a half-degree of warming, a heartening win for an end-of-year spending package in a challenging year for all. In addition, the bill extends major incentives for new renewables critical to building a clean electricity sector. This bill is a down payment on the economic recovery that we desperately need, and we look forward to the next Congress building on this action with investments in a 100 percent clean economy that provides environmental justice and high-paying union jobs.
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