(31 July, 2003 — Washington, D.C.)  Environmental Defense today praised the leadership and hard work of Senators McCain, Lieberman and their staffs for securing the opportunity of a direct vote on S. 139, the Climate Stewardship Act.  When it is voted on in the fall, this bipartisan bill will be the first ever vote on the floor of either house of Congress for or against a full market-based approach to lowering greenhouse gas emissions across the country.

“The vote on the Climate Stewardship Act will be the litmus test for Senators on global warming,” said legislative director Elizabeth Thompson.  “Americans have a right to know where their Senators stand on the issue.  Senator McCain, Senator Lieberman, and their staffs, have done great work to ensure that right.” 

Environmental Defense is strongly backing the Act and has launched an advertising campaign in support of the legislation, and has also been coordinating a petition campaign in support of the bill that has generated more than 130,000 citizen co-sponsors.

With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org