The biggest week of my life

12/06/2007

Dear TRD Editor,


Thanks for standing with me in the fight against global warming!

Yesterday, by an 11-8 vote, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee passed America's Climate Security Act, the world's most far-reaching global warming program -- critical legislation that would cut greenhouse gases below 1990 levels by 2020 and slash emissions by nearly 70% by 2050.

It may sound like an exaggeration, but it's true: This has been the biggest week of my life. I'm so grateful to all of you who stood with me and helped us reach this moment.

With yesterday's vote, America has taken a huge step towards showing real leadership on the critical issue of climate change. That's the message we're sending to a United Nations conference in Bali this week, where more than 10,000 participants from nearly 190 countries are meeting to work towards a new international agreement to fight global warming. The world has waited long enough for America to act, and I'm so gratified that yesterday we took a giant step forward.

Now our bill heads to the Senate floor for consideration. We've still got a lot of work to do to convince enough of my colleagues to support this critical bill and get the 60 votes we'll likely need to overcome a Republican filibuster. Over the coming weeks, I'll be asking for your help once again as we work to pass our bill in the full Senate.

But for now, I just want to thank all of you who spoke out and supported me in this fight over the past 10 months. In just the past few days alone, our community sent more than 12,000 emails and made more than 4,000 phone calls to EPW Committee members. That strong support made a real difference as my colleagues and I assembled in the hearing room on Wednesday, showing us clearly that the American people are standing with us in this fight.

I'm so proud of what we accomplished yesterday. Passing the world's most far-reaching global warming program through the EPW Committee and sending it to the full Senate is a huge milestone. We couldn't have done it without your support.

Thanks again for standing with me and helping America lead the fight against global warming.

In Friendship,

Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator