9 September 2009 | Luca Del Buono

 

Despite Washington's nearly single-minded focus on healthcare reform, the Obama administration still expects the U.S. Senate to pass climate change legislation, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Tuesday.

"Right now we are focused on this crusade for healthcare reform for the country and that's where our time and energy will go for the days ahead," Salazar said during an interview at the Reuters Global Climate and Alternative Energy Summit.

Even so, he added, "We want both (healthcare and climate bills). The president has been very clear that these are two big issues for the United States and for our time."

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed legislation in June to put domestic utilities, oil refineries and other factories on a path toward reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants associated with global warming.

As head of the Interior Department, Salazar oversees the development of oil and gas on federal lands and offshore waters and he has been active in expanding renewable energy sources.

The controversial House bill calls for a 17 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and an 83 percent cut by 2050 -- from 2005 levels.

But with a difficult fight over healthcare reform taking up so much of Congress' time and with many Republicans and moderate Democrats balking at the environmental bill, the Senate already is about two months behind schedule in advancing a climate change bill.

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Source: Reuters

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