For each piece of legislation, details are provided on: when the bill was introduced, the latest major action taken, lead sponsor(s), cosponsor(s), the basic premise, and the inclusion of wildlife funding.  NWF believes that any climate change legislation that is signed into law needs to include a provision for wildlife funding.

Such a provision has the effect of attacking the issue from both sides, not only reducing emissions, but also protecting and conserving habitats that have already been impacted by climate change.  NWF also believes that any effective climate legislation must reduce emissions by 2% or more per year, based on 1990 levels.  This is the only way that emissions will get to a safe level by mid-century.

Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007 (S.280)

Introduced:  1/12/07

Latest Major Action:  1/12/07 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Lead Sponsors:  Lieberman, McCain

Cosponsors:  Obama, Clinton, Lincoln, Collins, Durbin, Snowe, Nelson

Description:  Economy-wide greenhouse gas cap and trade:  2004 levels by 2012, 1990 levels by 2020, and 1/3 of 2004 levels by 2050.

Wildlife Funding:   10% of revenues from auctioned carbon credits will go to fund wildlife conservation.  ($500 mil-$1.8 bil /year)

Climate Stewardship Act of 2007 (H.R. 620)

Introduced:  1/22/07

Latest Major Action:  2/7/07 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.

Lead Sponsors:  Olver, Gilchrest

Cosponsors:  107 total, click here for the full list.

Description:  Economy-wide greenhouse gas cap and trade:  15% below 2004 in 2020 and 70% below 1990 in 2050

Wildlife Funding:   10% of revenues from auctioned carbon credits will go to fund wildlife conservation.  ($500 mil-$1.8 bil /year)

Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007 (S.309)

Introduced:  1/16/07

Latest Major Action:  1/16/07 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Lead Sponsor:  Sanders

Cosponsors:  11 total, click here for the full list.

Description:  Reduces U.S. emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; 1/3 of 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2030; 2/3 of 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2040; and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

Wildlife Funding:   The Administrator may allocate emission allowances,  to individuals and entities (including fish and wildlife agencies) for use in carrying out projects to protect and restore ecosystems (including fish and wildlife) affected by climate change.

Safe Climate Act of 2006 (H.R.5642, 109th, to be reintroduced soon)

Introduced:  6/20/06

Latest Major Action:  7/17/06 Referred to House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

Lead Sponsors:  Waxman

Cosponsors:  113 total, click here for the full list.

Description:  Economy wide GHG cap and trade; 2009 level cap starting 2010; 2%/yr cut 2011-2020; 5%/yr cut 2021-2050; Will reach 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. 

Wildlife Funding:  Undetermined amount  is to be invested in "mitigating harm to fish and wildlife habitat"

Discussion Draft

Lead Sponsor:  Bingaman

Cosponsor:  Specter

Description:  Greenhouse gas "intensity" would be reduced by 2.6 percent annually between 2012 and 2021 and by 3 percent a year after that.  Cap on the price of carbon dioxide emission credits at $7 per ton. "

Wildlife Funding: None.

Keep America Competitive Global Warming Policy Act of 2006 (H.R. 5049, 109th)

Introduced:  3/29/06

Latest Major Action:  5/24/06 Referred to House Subcommittee on Education Reform.

Lead Sponsors:  Udall, Petri

Cosponsors:  None.

Description:  Economy-wide greenhouse gas cap and trade. Will set cap level 3 years after passage of bill. Cap on the price of carbon dioxide emission credits at $7 per ton.

Wildlife Finding:  None.  (Udall has said wildlife funding will be included when the bill is reintroduced in the 110th Congress)

The Electric Utility Cap-and-Trade Act (S.317)

Introduced:  1/17/07

Latest Major Action:  1/17/07 Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Lead Sponsor:  Feinstein

Cosponsors:  Carper

Description:  Program to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases from electric utilies with  auctions that start at 15% and climbs 3% a year to 70% over time.   

Wildlife Funding:  After paying administrative expenses, 10% of the remaining Climate Action Trust Fund will go to fund fish and wildlife habitat (70% to the wildlife restoration fund under Pittman-Robertson and 30% to national programs).  The amount in the Climate Action Trust Fund will grow as the percent of allowances auctioned grows from 15% in 2011 to 100% in 2036. 

Global Warming Reduction Act of 2007 (S. 485)

Introduced: 

Latest Major Action:  2/1/07 Referred to Senate Committee on Finance.

Lead Sponsors:  Kerry

Cosponsors:  Snowe, Kennedy

Description:  Economy-wide emission cap-and-trade program freezes emissions in 2010 and then calls for a gradual reduction each year to 65 percent below 2000 emissions levels by 2050.

Wildlife Finding:  It is the goal of the Act to "support activities that protect against and mitigate the impacts of climate change including damage to fish and wildlife habitat"

Clean Air Planning Act of 2006 (S. 2724, 109th)

Introduced:  5/4/06

Latest Major Action:  5/4/06 Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Lead Sponsor:  Carper

Cosponsors:  Alexander, Chafee, Gregg, Dodd, Graham, Feinstein

Description:  4-pollutant power plant bill, including CO2 cap and trade:  2006 levels by 2009, and 2001 levels by 2013, may be achieved using emissions offsets, empowers the EPA to lower the cap, but not for 20 years.

Wildlife Finding:  None.

  Clean Air Planning Act of 2005 (H.R. 1873, 109th)

Introduced:  5/23/05

Latest Major Action:  5/23/05 Referred to House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

Lead Sponsor:  Cooper

Cosponsors:  Davis

Description:  4-pollutant power plant bill, including CO2 cap and trade: 2006 levels by 2010, 2001 levels by 2015

Wildlife Finding:  None.

Again, this document will be updated regularly and can be found at Arctic Promise.  Please enjoy this reference and be sure to check back periodically if you'd like to keep up with the status of global warming legislation.