Sen. Ed Markey to become chair of U.S. Senate Climate Change Clearinghouse

[bananas]

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/sen_ed_markey_to_become_chair.html

Sen. Ed Markey to become chair of U.S. Senate Climate Change Clearinghouse

By Robert Rizzuto on September 25, 2013

During his 37 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Ed Markey built a reputation as a legislator concerned about the environment. And now as the junior U.S. senator from Massachusetts, he is set to become the new chair of the Senate Climate Change Clearinghouse.

Although the clearinghouse is an unofficial open forum for members of the Senate, it is the place where ideas for environmental legislation may take form. Markey, who had significant support from environmentalists in the special election to replace John Kerry, takes the duty along with co-chairs and Democratic senators Barbara Boxer of California and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

“I’m honored to join Senator Boxer and Senator Wyden in leading the Climate Change Clearinghouse. The dangers of climate change are clear," Markey said in a statement. "The costs to the United States are real. And the need for action from the public, businesses and government is urgent. I look forward to working with all the members of the Clearinghouse to find solutions to the threat climate change presents to us and to future generations."

<snip>

The Climate Change Clearinghouse is the brainchild of Boxer who pushed for its creation in 2012. She talked of Markey as an asset to the group in a statement sent accompanying the announcement.

<snip>

[bananas]

1. Senator Ed Markey to co-chair climate forum

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2013/09/25/senator-markey-chair-climate-forum/OoQWJaE1ibGGuzDwHjcYxK/story.html

Senator Ed Markey to co-chair climate forum

By Mattias Gugel September 25, 2013

WASHINGTON— Senator Edward J. Markey has been named to be the lead co-chair of the Climate Change Clearinghouse, a Senate discussion group that gives lawmakers a forum to consider efforts to curb global warming.

The move signals that the Massachusetts Democrat -- despite his freshman status -- will have a chance to pick up where he left off in the House, where he was a leading voice among lawmakers on the issue.

The appointment was announced on Wednesday by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Democrats Barbara Boxer of California, the chairwoman of Environment and Public Works, and Ron Wyden of Oregon, chairman of the Energy Committee, will co-chair the forum with Markey. The group seeks to encourage collaboration on climate between those committees and the Foreign Relations Committee, of which Markey is a member.

<snip>

Markey focused on energy policy during his career in the House from 1976 to 2013, serving on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. Burnham-Snyder said Markey sees this forum as a something that will outlast today’s partisan political climate.

<snip>

[merrily]

2. He's earned it.