Issues

Environment

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From protecting endangered species to restoring our ecosystems and investing in clean-energy solutions, the Obama administration and Democrats are committed to working to address our biggest environmental challenges.

Under the Obama administration, the Department of Transportation issued new fuel-economy standards, the first mandated increases in fuel economy for cars in decades. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken the first steps toward regulating carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. For the first time, the U.S. will catalogue greenhouse gas emissions from large emission sources-—an important initial step toward measurable and transparent reductions.

Recent Updates
  • Senate Democrats Act to End Tax Breaks for Oil Companies

    With gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon throughout the country, Senate Democrats are fighting to make sure that taxpayers trying to fill their tanks are getting a fairer shake -- instead of also subsidizing the oil companies raking in record profits from the high prices. This week, the Senate is poised to vote on a measure that would eliminate $21 billion in tax breaks over 10 years for major oil and gas companies.

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  • Republicans Once Supported Ending Oil Company Tax Breaks

    Despite opposition by the GOP and protest by oil executives, Democrats have continued their call to end government tax breaks for major oil and gas companies, the beneficiaries of windfall profits this year. But it was only a short time ago when Republicans, too, supported ending these unfair tax breaks.

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  • Video: GOP Must Stand Up to Big Oil

    Today in the Senate, Democrats are holding a hearing on eliminating unnecessary tax breaks for oil and gas companies -- and to discuss the need to combat rising energy prices. In the face of staggering oil industry profits, President Obama and congressional Democrats are pressing for an end to these unneeded government subsidies. Republicans, however, are refusing all efforts to roll back Big Oil’s $4 billion taxpayer payday.

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Recent Action
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency
President Obama signed an Executive Order directing the federal government to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent by 2020, become more energy efficient, and decrease petroleum consumption.
Protecting public lands and natural habitats
Democrats passed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, a sweeping conservation measure that will protect and preserve America’s forests, rivers, oceans, national parks, monuments, and public lands for future generations.
Milestones