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Climate hawks breathe a sigh of relief after more than a decade of battle for climate legislation

(CNN)Massachusetts Sen. I still remember the raw anger I felt after I couldn't. - ruled Senate.

"I was furious that the climate crisis was not resolved," he told CNN of his Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill. .
In a 50-50 Senate, and more than a decade after him, Markey and his remaining Democratic colleagues voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. This is by far thelargest climate investmentin the United States. history. The bill, which still needs to be passed by the House, provides more than $370 billion in tax incentives andother funds to boost clean energy,and reduce global warming emissions. is included.
After the bill passed the Senate on Sunday afternoon, a visibly emotional Senator Martin Heinrich said he still couldn't believe it. 21}

"I'm not sure we're fully caught up yet," a New Mexico Democrat told CNN. It took another 12 years, and I think it will be transformative.”

It is never too early to pass legislation. The urgency to reverse the perilous trajectory of the climate crisis has never been greater. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hasn't been this high for more than 4 million years, a scientist reported in June,and human greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. increase.

Scientists have known for decades that the climate crisis is fueling extreme heat, severe droughts, and storms, with the consequences of burning fossil fuels reaching every corner of the country.

In recent weeks, the United States has experienced devastating wildfires in the West and a series of deadly flash floods in the Midwest. } and California and Western Widening worst drought in 12th centuryUS will lose more than $145 billion to extreme weather in 2021 alone spent.

It is through that lens that this vote was personal to many senators, some of whom put the future of their children and grandchildren first.

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper said, "It's a matter of how they live and whether they can have the planet they grow on." ' said.

A Delaware Democrat added, "Do they have a future? Do their children have a future? It doesn't get any bigger."

``The planet itself is at stake''

The victory of climate change was not guaranteed.

Since negotiations began more than a year before him, lawmakers and staff have seen other versions of the bill die off in dramatic fashion. The final slim version was revived inrecent confidential talks between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and West his Senator Joe Manchin of Virginia.

"Each near-death experience was as frightening as the last one," said Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz. "I have never had so many ups and downs in one bill. Not only have there been an extraordinary number of twists and turns, but the planet itself is at stake."

Manchin {64 When } complained in July about the bill's impact on inflation and energy security, he was also listening from other Democrats. Carper told CNN that he approached West Virginians on the Senate floor with a list of recent climate disasters and extreme weather events, urging them to take action.

"They will say, 'I want you to help my state,'" Carper said. “‘My state is the worst state in America. While promising to help transition, Manchin's vote also required him to help states such as Delaware and Louisiana, whose coastlines were being swallowed by the sea.

Over the course of several weeks, Democrats watched as Manchin went from "no" to being the face of the bill, defending it in the press.

"Everybody's heard him say that if he can explain, they can vote," Schatz said. "He finally got to the bill he's proud of. And it's like a light switch turned on. He's not kicking or yelling. It's dragging everyone down and leading the message of this bill."

On Thursday night, Arizona Senator Kirsten Cinema announced that she too would support the bill, saying the party needed it. gave 50 votes.

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith told her CNN on Thursday, "This impact really hit me for the first time." "I was in tears. I was so happy."

Only a few weeks ago, Smith said, "I thought the door was almost closed. When I realized there was an agreement, I literally I couldn't believe it," he said.

Big wins ahead of midterm elections

Senate climate hawks told CNN their job wasn't done yet, but when they next Which path it takes will depend on the outcome of the midterm elections in November and whether the party can maintain a fragile congressional majority.

Democrats will immediately begin working on the environmental permit reform bill, and Schumer and Manchin agreed to move it forward this fall as part of a larger deal, lawmakers said. told CNN. Manchin wanted a timeline of up to two years for reviewing drilling permits and an expedited process for certain major interstate power transmission projects.

But it will also advance controversial natural pipeline projects in Virginia and West Virginia. The bill would require Republican votes to cross the 60-vote threshold, which could complicate things.

"We always knew it would stink," Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse told CNN of the fossil fuel policy. Still, Mr. Whitehouse admitted, "There are some things that we want," like a provision to expedite permitting electricity transmission.

The climate hawks also plan to put more pressure on the Biden administration to roll out strong regulatory and administrative measures, and are considering efforts to reinstate measures Manchin scrapped last year. Some people are. Further significantly reduce fossil fuel emissions.

For now, they are relieved that they have finally won an important victory for the climate.

"I think this bill is a show of action," Smith said. "I don't think this will be the last time, but it will break the dam of inaction."