On Earth Day, American Bridge is highlighting Congressman Joe Heck and Sharron Angle’s poor records on environmental issues.
“GOP senate candidates Joe Heck and Sharron Angle are unconcerned with protecting Nevada’s natural wonders and resources. Their records show a commitment to big polluters like the Koch brothers and oil companies over the Silver State’s environment,” said American Bridge President Jessica Mackler. “Ignoring scientific evidence, Angle and Heck have joined the GOP ranks in climate change denial. Nevada’s next senator should believe in combating climate change, not in boosting billionaires’ bottom lines.”
Background:
Joe Heck
Climate Change Denier
2012: HECK AVOIDED DIRECTLY ANSWERING IF HE BELIEVED CLIMATE CHANGE WAS OCCURRING…
October 2012: When Asked If He Believed Climate Change Was Happening, Heck Declined To Answer The Question. According to Public Radio International, “To clarify, I asked Heck if he believes climate change is happening. ‘Well, I think certainly over the millennia, we’ve seen changes in our climate both ways, and I think throughout the future millennia we will continue to see climate change that goes both ways. But the issue for this election is not what’s going to be happening in the next 200 years, it’s going to be what’s happening in the next 12 months.’ Heck answered most all my questions, on a range of topics, directly. But not this one.” [Public Radio International, 10/17/12]
October 2012: When Asked About Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Heck Said That Carbon Dioxide Was A “Natural, Biological Process.” According to Public Radio International, “Heck is a physician by training. I asked him if his support for renewable energy is also driven by scientific and environmental concerns, and if he’d support curbs on greenhouse gasses. ‘I think on that the devil is in the details. When you start looking at trying to regulate something like carbon dioxide, which is a natural, biological process, you start running into areas of confusion,’ said Heck.” [Public Radio International, 10/17/12]
October 2012: When Asked If He Believed Climate Change Was Happening, Heck Said “We’ve Seen Changes In Our Climate Both Ways, And I Think Throughout The Future Millennia We Will Continue To See Climate Change That Goes Both Ways.” According to Public Radio International, “To clarify, I asked Heck if he believes climate change is happening. ‘Well, I think certainly over the millennia, we’ve seen changes in our climate both ways, and I think throughout the future millennia we will continue to see climate change that goes both ways. But the issue for this election is not what’s going to be happening in the next 200 years, it’s going to be what’s happening in the next 12 months.’ Heck answered most all my questions, on a range of topics, directly. But not this one.” [Public Radio International, 10/17/12]
… BUT CLAIMED “YOU START RUNNING INTO AREAS OF CONFUSION” IF YOU ATTEMPT TO REGULATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS…
October 2012: When Asked If He Supported Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Heck Declined To Answer The Question, But Said “You Start Running Into Areas Of Confusion” When You Regulate Carbon Emissions. According to Public Radio International, “Heck is a physician by training. I asked him if his support for renewable energy is also driven by scientific and environmental concerns, and if he’d support curbs on greenhouse gasses. ‘I think on that the devil is in the details. When you start looking at trying to regulate something like carbon dioxide, which is a natural, biological process, you start running into areas of confusion,’ said Heck.” [Public Radio International, 10/17/12]
…AND DENIED THAT CLIMATE CHANGE WAS OCCURRING “IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS”
October 2012: Heck Said Climate Change Was Not Happening “In The Next 12 Months.” According to Public Radio International, “To clarify, I asked Heck if he believes climate change is happening. ‘Well, I think certainly over the millennia, we’ve seen changes in our climate both ways, and I think throughout the future millennia we will continue to see climate change that goes both ways. But the issue for this election is not what’s going to be happening in the next 200 years, it’s going to be what’s happening in the next 12 months.’ Heck answered most all my questions, on a range of topics, directly. But not this one.” [Public Radio International, 10/17/12]
October 2012: Heck Said Over The Next 200 Years, “We Will Continue To See Climate Change That Goes Both Ways.” According to Public Radio International, “To clarify, I asked Heck if he believes climate change is happening. ‘Well, I think certainly over the millennia, we’ve seen changes in our climate both ways, and I think throughout the future millennia we will continue to see climate change that goes both ways. But the issue for this election is not what’s going to be happening in the next 200 years, it’s going to be what’s happening in the next 12 months.’ Heck answered most all my questions, on a range of topics, directly. But not this one.” [Public Radio International, 10/17/12]
October 2012: Heck Dismissed The Immediacy Of Climate Change, Saying “The Issue For This Election Is Not What’s Going To Be Happening In The Next 200 Years, It’s Going To Be What’s Happening In The Next 12 Months.” According to Public Radio International, “To clarify, I asked Heck if he believes climate change is happening. ‘Well, I think certainly over the millennia, we’ve seen changes in our climate both ways, and I think throughout the future millennia we will continue to see climate change that goes both ways. But the issue for this election is not what’s going to be happening in the next 200 years, it’s going to be what’s happening in the next 12 months.’ Heck answered most all my questions, on a range of topics, directly. But not this one.” [Public Radio International, 10/17/12]
2012: Heck Denied Climate Change Was A Relevant Issue For The Election. According to Public Radio International, “To clarify, I asked Heck if he believes climate change is happening. ‘Well, I think certainly over the millennia, we’ve seen changes in our climate both ways, and I think throughout the future millennia we will continue to see climate change that goes both ways. But the issue for this election is not what’s going to be happening in the next 200 years, it’s going to be what’s happening in the next 12 months.’ [Heck said].” [Public Radio International, 10/17/12]
OPPOSED COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE
2010: Heck Signed The AFP Pledge To “Oppose Any Legislation Relating To Climate Change That Includes A Net Increase In Government Revenue”
2010: Americans For Prosperity Said That Heck Pledged To “Oppose Any Legislation Relating To Climate Change That Includes A Net Increase In Government Revenue.” According to Americans for prosperity, “Joe Heck joined many of his colleagues in standing up for what is right by signing the “No Climate Tax Pledge.” Heck and other lawmakers pledge to oppose any legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.” [Americans For Prosperity – We Appreciate Joe Heck, accessed 9/13/15]
2011: Voted To Prohibit The Agriculture Department From Implementing Climate Change Policies
2011: Heck Voted To Prohibit The Agriculture Department From Implementing Climate Change Policies. In June 2011, Heck voted for an amendment that according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “bar[red] the use of funds in the bill to implement the Department of Agriculture regulation titled ‘Policy Statement on Climate Change Adaptation.’” The underlying bill provided for Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations. The House agreed to the amendment by a vote of 238 to 179. The amendment was included in the House passed version, but was not included the conference report that became law. [House Vote 448, 6/16/11; Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2112; Bill Text, H.R. 2112]
2013: Heck Voted To Block Carbon Tax Without Congressional Approval
2013: Heck Voted To Block Any Carbon Tax Imposed By Executive Agency Regulations Without Express Congressional Approval. In August 2013, Heck voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “include[d] in the definition of major regulations, rules that would provide for the implementation or collection of a carbon tax.” The amendment was to the House’s version of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2013, which, according to Congressional Quarterly, would “bar major federal agency rules from being implemented without congressional approval.” The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 237 to 176. The underlying bill later passed the House, but the Senate had taken no substantive action on it as of mid-December 2013. [House Vote 437, 8/2/13; Congressional Actions, H.R. 367; Congressional Quarterly, 8/2/13; Congressional Quarterly, 8/2/13; Congressional Quarterly, 8/2/13]
HECK VOTED SIX TIMES TO LIMIT EPA REGULATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
2011: Heck Voted To Bar The EPA From Implementing Or Enforcing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations On Power Plants. In February 2011, Heck voted for an amendment that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] prohibit[ed] the use of any appropriated funds by the EPA to implement or enforce any regulations applicable after Jan. 1, 2011, pertaining to the emission of greenhouse gases from stationary sources.” The House adopted the amendment to the proposed omnibus Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2011 by a vote of 249 to 177. The House subsequently passed the underlying bill, but the Senate rejected it. [House Vote 96, 2/18/11; Congressional Quarterly, 2/18/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
2011: Heck Voted To Prohibit The Environmental Protection Agency And The States From Addressing Climate Change By Regulating Greenhouse Gases. In April 2011, Heck voted for a bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] prohibit[ed] the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases in any effort to address climate change. It would [have] amend[ed] the Clean Air Act to strike specific elements from the definition of ‘air pollutant,’ unless regulation of those chemicals is not used in an attempt to address climate change. It also would [have] clarif[ied] that the bill does not limit the authority of a state to regulate the emission of a greenhouse gas, unless the regulation attempts to address climate change.” The vote was on passage of the bill; the House passed it by a vote of 255 to 172. The bill was subsequently sent to the Senate, which took no substantive action on the measure. [House Vote 249,4/7/11; Congressional Quarterly, 4/7/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 910]
2012: Heck Voted To Repeal EPA Findings On The Harmful Effects Of Carbon Pollution. September 2012, Heck voted against an amendment that, according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “str[uck] language to repeal EPA findings on the harmful effects of carbon pollution.” The underlying bill pertained to censuring the Obama administration for various environmental and energy policies. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 178 to 229. [House Vote 593, 9/21/12; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3409; Congressional Quarterly, 9/21/12; Congressional Quarterly, 9/18/12]
2012: Heck Voted To Bar The Environmental Protection Agency From Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions To Reduce Climate Change. In September 2012, Heck voted for a bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “bar[red] the EPA from issuing regulations on greenhouse gas emissions in association with efforts to reduce climate change.” The underlying bill also prevented federal regulators from issuing new regulations related to coal mining. The House passed the bill by a vote of 233 to 175. The Senate referred the bill to the Committee on Environment and Public Works and no further action was taken. [House Vote 603, 9/21/12; Congressional Quarterly, 9/21/12; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3409]
2013: Heck Voted Against Preventing The EPA From Promulgating Any Regulations Relating To Greenhouse Gases. In March 2013, Heck voted to oppose preventing the EPA from promulgating any regulations relating to greenhouse gases, as part of the Republican Study Committee’s proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2013 to 2023. According to the Republican Study Committee, “The budget also prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change.” The vote was on an amendment to the House budget resolution replacing the entire budget with the RSC’s proposed budget; the amendment failed by a vote of 104 to 132 with 171 Democrats voting present. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Repeating a strategy from last year, 171 Democrats voted “present” to push Republicans to vote against the RSC plan to make sure it did not have enough support to replace the Ryan plan.” [House Vote 86, 3/21/13; Republican Study Committee, 3/18/13; Congressional Quarterly,3/25/13]
2014: Heck Voted Severely Limit The EPA’s Ability To Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Fossil-Fueled Power Plants. In January 2014, Heck voted for a bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would limit EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fueled power plants under the 1963 air pollution control law. It would nullify EPA’s recently issued rules for new electricity-generating power plants and restrict EPA to setting national standards for new plants that have already been adopted by at least six nationally disbursed plants. It also would block EPA regulation of existing power plants unless Congress later allows EPA to do so. As amended, it would prohibit performance standards to be based on a foreign-developed technology unless it has been successfully used at a U.S. power plant.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 229 to 183; however, as of mid-April 2014, the Senate had taken no substantive action on the measure. [House Vote 106, 3/6/14; Congressional Quarterly, 3/6/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3826]
VOTED AGAINST RESEARCHING CLIMATE CHANGE
2012: Heck Voted To Defund The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Climate Change Education Partnership Program. In May 2012, Heck voted for an amendment that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] bar[red] the use of funds in the bill to carry out the National Science Foundation’s Climate Change Education Partnership program.” The amendment was to a bill that funded science-related programs and the Departments of Commerce and Justice for fiscal year 2013; the House adopted the amendment by a vote of 238 to 188. The House later passed the underlying bill, but the Senate took no substantive action on it. [House Vote 241, 5/9/12; Congressional Actions,H.R. 5326; Congressional Quarterly, 5/9/12; CRS Summary of H.R. 5326, 5/10/12]
2014: Heck Voted To Block Funding For Several Climate Change-Related Science And Development Reports, Including The National Climate Assessment And The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report. In July 2014, Heck voted for an amendment to the FY 2015 Energy Department and Water Development Appropriations bill that, according to the Congressional Record, stated that “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to design, implement, administer, or carry out the United States Global Climate Research Program National Climate Assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report, the United Nation’s [sic] Agenda 21 sustainable development plan, the May 2013 Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866, or the July 2014 Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations’ pathways to deep decarbonization report.” The House agreed to the amendment by a vote of 229 to 188, and later passed the underlying bill. As of August 2014, the Senate has not taken any substantive action on the House-passed bill. [House Vote 397, 7/10/14; Congressional Record, 7/10/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4923]
- The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report Was A “Comprehensive Assessment Of Scientific Knowledge On Climate Change.”According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s website, “One of the main IPCC activities is the preparation of comprehensive Assessment Reports about the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its causes, potential impacts and response strategies. […] The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) is being released in four parts between September 2013 and November 2014. It will be the most comprehensive assessment of scientific knowledge on climate change since 2007 when Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) was released.” [IPCC Website, Viewed 8/11/14]
2014: Heck Voted To Block The Department Of Defense From Assessing Or Reporting On Climate Change. In May 2014, Heck voted for an amendment to the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would bar the use of funds in the bill to conduct climate change assessments and reports.” The House agreed to the amendment by a vote of 231 to 192. The House subsequently passed the underlying bill; however, the Senate has taken no substantive action on the House-passed bill as of late June, 2014. [House Vote 231, 5/22/14; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4435]
2011: Heck Voted To Prevent The Establishment Of A National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Climate Service. In February 2011, Heck voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “bar[red] the use of funds made available in the bill to establish a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Service, as described in a published draft framework.” The underlying bill pertained to continuing appropriations for FY 2011. The vote was on adopting the amendment; the House adopted the amendment by a vote of 233 to 187. The House passed the underlying bill and the Senate amended the bill, but it was not taken up by the House again. [House Vote 127, 2/19/11; Congressional Quarterly, 2/19/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
2015: Heck Voted For An Amendment That Would Prohibit The Use Of Federal Funds For The Department Of Energy’s Climate Model Development And Validation Program. In May 2015, Heck voted for an amendment that would prohibit the use of federal funds for the Department of Energy’s Climate Model Development and Validation Program. According to Congressional Quarterly, the amendment would, “prohibit funds made available under the act from being used for the Energy Department’s Climate Model Development and Validation program.” The underlying bill was the House’s FY 2016 Energy and Water appropriations bill. The vote was on agreement to the amendment and the House passed the amendment 224 to 184. The underlying bill was reported to the Senate appropriations committee. No further action has been taken. [House Vote 209, 5/1/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/1/15; Congressional Quarterly,10/2/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2028; CRS Summary of H.R. 2028, 5/21/15]
Sharron Angle
Climate Change Denier
Angle Said The Department Of Energy Should Be Disbanded. According to the New York Times, “She believes federal energy initiatives are unconstitutional and has called for the Department of Energy to be disbanded.” [New York Times, 5/26/10]
Angle Did Not Believe Climate Change Was Caused By Man. According to the New York Times, “‘I’m a clean-air proponent,’ Angle said in an interview. ‘I don’t, however, buy into the whole … man-caused global warming, man-caused climate change mantra of the left. I believe that there’s not sound science to back that up.’” [New York Times, 5/26/10]
2010: The League Of Conservation Voters Named Angle One Of Their “Dirty Dozen” Candidates For Her Positions On The Environment And Climate Change. According to the League of Conservation Voters, “Angle vehemently opposes comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation and denies the sound and settled science of global warming.” [League of Conservation Voters, Viewed 4/21/16]
2010: Angle Called For The Elimination Of The Environmental Protection Agency. According to the League of Conservation Voters, “During her campaign for the U.S. Senate, Sharron Angle has called for the elimination of the Environmental Protection Agency and referred to the BP escrow account as a “Slush Fund”. [League of Conservation Voters, Viewed 4/21/16]
2003: Angle Received A 17 Percent Rating From The Nevada Conservation League. According to the League of Conservation Voters, “As a member of the Nevada State Assembly, Angle received dismal environmental scores of 17% in 2003 and 14% in 2005 from the Nevada Conservation League.” [League of Conservation Voters, Viewed 4/21/16]
Angle Called The Environmental Protection Agency A “C-Priority Program” And Believed It Should Be Funded By The States. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Mrs. Angle is not bashful about wanting to take a knife to what she labels ‘C-priority programs,’ including federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency. She thinks such bodies should be funded ‘by the states under the 10th Amendment.’” [Wall Street Journal, 7/17/10]
Angle Said Climate Change Was Based On An “Unscientific Hysteria.” According to Politico, “Sharron Angle, the GOP opponent for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada, said on her website in June that she thought legislation to curb greenhouse gases ‘is based on an unscientific hysteria over the man-caused global warming hoax.’” [Politico, 8/18/10]
Published: Apr 22, 2016