House Democrats have formally proposed creating a new committee on climate change, without many of the main factors that progressives wanted in the panel’s structure.

Published: March 20, 2019, 9:15 p.m.

House Democrats have formally proposed creating a new committee on climate change, without many of the main factors that progressives wanted in the panel’s structure. Democratic leaders unveiled the plans for the “Select Committee on the Climate Crisis” late Tuesday as part of a package of rules to govern House proceedings for the next two years. The proposed rules, which the House will vote to adopt Thursday when Democrats formally take the chamber’s majority, say the select committee is instructed “to investigate, study, make findings, and develop recommendations on policies, strategies, and innovations to achieve substantial and permanent reductions in pollution and other activities that contribute to the climate crisis which will honor our responsibility to be good stewards of the planet for future generations.” As has been reported in recent weeks, the panel will not have many of the features that Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), dozens of other Democrats and hundreds of activists have asked for to lead to a “Green New Deal.” The panel will not have the power to subpoena or depose, nor will it have the authority to vote on legislation and send it directly to the House floor for a vote. READ: thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/423492-house-dems-formalize-climate-committee-plans-without-green-new-deal