PRESS RELEASE:

Walden appointed to exclusive climate change panel

March 9, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) today announced that he has accepted an appointment from House Minority Leader John Boehner to serve on the new Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently announced the creation the special new panel, and yesterday the House approved its establishment. Nine Democrats and six Republicans will serve on it.

"It will be an honor to sit on a panel that will hopefully investigate the many differing points of view and scientific findings on what is exactly affecting climate change," Walden said. "Global temperatures have risen, no doubt. We have thermometers that can measure these things with accuracy. The challenge we face is to determine exactly the role nature and other countries play, and what we as humans can do about it to positively curtail negative trends. Climate change is a critical and complicated issue with many aspects to it, and I'm eager for this new panel to pursue them in depth."

"Congressman Walden is uniquely qualified given the expertise he's gained during his service on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Resources Committee," Boehner said. "Greg is an intelligent, hard-working legislator who has a strong record of driving bipartisan conservation initiatives."

Walden represents one of the most heavily forested Congressional districts in the country, and understands that healthy forests are an important tool in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide. According to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, the 2003 B&B Complex fire near Sisters emitted more than double the amount of carbon into the atmosphere than all other Oregon emission sources that year combined.

"Scientific studies are confirming what commonsense tells us; well-managed, healthy forests run a lower risk of burning up in a catastrophic, highly polluting, wildfire. Responsible forest stewardship, both here in the United States and in other nations around the world, naturally lessens the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere," Walden said.

Walden is also vice chair of the bipartisan House Renewable Energy Caucus and co-chair of the bipartisan House Northwest Energy Caucus. The Pacific Northwest is a leader in the production and use of renewable energy and alternative fuels. Walden has been a leading advocate in the House to further develop alternative energy sources, promote the use of hybrid vehicles and invest in new technological advances. He has consistently voted to extend or increase tax credits to advance wind, solar, geothermal and biomass energy production. 

Congressman Walden represents 20 counties in central, southern and eastern Oregon. He is a Deputy Whip in the House Leadership Structure and a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.