John Kerry

10/09/2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement aftertheannouncement that President Obama had been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize:

“I congratulate President Obama on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This is an honor of the highest magnitude and all Americans should be proud of this recognition.

"Since his inauguration, President Obama has taken great strides to elevate America’s standing in the world. Under President Obama, America has returned to its true spirit and core values – global engagement, alliance-building, and respect for international human rights and treaties.    » read more »

Statement of Senator John Kerry

10/08/2009 -- “Even as we sit down each day and meet with Republicans and Democrats committed to finding common ground and consensus, the RPC has continues to get its facts upside-down and backwards.

The Kerry-Boxer bill will put millions of Americans back to work by investing in energy solutions made in America, that work for America. It actually boosts our manufacturing sector by making sure American companies are more competitive globally and protects us from foreign companies that try to pollute their way to lower prices. We are open to every constructive idea that helps solve our energy and climate challenges, but distortions don’t do a thing to fix the problems Americans sent us to Washington to fix.“    » read more »

WASHINGTON (October 8, 2009) – The Union of Concerned Scientists has assembled a detailed summary of key provisions in the recently introduced Kerry-Boxer Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. While many important provisions in the Senate bill have yet to be fleshed out, UCS is urging senators to strengthen and pass the legislation before December's international climate negotiations in Copenhagen conclude.

UCS experts have identified three provisions in the bill that merit greater media scrutiny.

First, the Senate bill allows carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects to receive generous, pre-set subsidies. UCS experts say the Senate should limit subsidies to this yet-unproven technology.    » read more »

10/01/2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) authored the following op-ed in today’s Financial Times titled “Time for Diplomacy to End the Stand-off With Iran.”

The full text of the op-ed is below:

Time for diplomacy to end the stand-off with Iran
By John Kerry
October 1, 2009

Today the Obama administration begins the most important American diplomatic engagement with Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The public revelation of the Qom enrichment facility and Iran’s provocative ballistic missile test on Monday demonstrate what is at stake. Iran has increased its low-enriched uranium 20-fold since 2007, enough to produce, eventually, at least one nuclear weapon after further enrichment.    » read more »

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- The Sierra Club applauds the introduction of the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act by Senators Kerry and Boxer today. It is time for American to again take charge and make sure that we have less pollution, more jobs and greater security.

This bill is an important step forward to the clean energy economy that works for everyone. It makes America more energy independent creating new jobs with safer, cleaner energy sources that are made in America and work for America. We are pleased that the Senate bill sets a strong short term target for carbon pollution reductions and retains EPA's authority to regulate global warming emissions.    » read more »

Statement of Andy Wilson, Global Warming Program Director, Public Citizen’s Texas Office

Sept. 30, 2009 -- The Boxer-Kerry draft includes some important measures to address climate change and create new green jobs, it is simply not sufficient to solve climate change or create the green jobs revolution we need.    » read more »

Introduction of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act

WASHINGTON, DC (September 30, 2009) – Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Foreign Relations Committee Chair John Kerry (D-MA) are expected to unveil the Senate’s version of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation today.

Joe Mendelson, global warming policy director of the National Wildlife Federation, said today:

“Quite simply, this bill means less pollution and more clean energy. It will move America forward in the new clean energy economy, create new jobs and help ensure our country is a leader in developing and selling clean energy technology around the world.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (September 30, 2009) — Climate and energy legislation expected to be introduced today by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) could help pave the way for a new international climate treaty, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. The United Nations is sponsoring an international summit in December in Copenhagen to negotiate a new treaty.

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act aims to reduce emissions 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. By contrast, the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill, which the House passed in June, would reduce emissions 17 percent by that same year.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- September 30, 2009 -- Today, Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, made the following comments regarding the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act introduced today by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.):

“I support legislation to create clean domestic energy and address climate change in a way that is economically responsible, environmentally effective, and encourages action by other countries to achieve these goals. I believe the Kerry-Boxer bill can be structured, with Committee and floor amendments, to meet these goals subject to the following considerations:    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- Senators Bernie Sanders, Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and eight supporters kicked off the global warming debate in the Senate Wednesday with a rally releasing their comprehensive climate bill.

"Countries around the world have asked ‘Where is the United States of America in helping us lead the fight against global warming?' Today, we are back. And we are going to lead the offensive," Sen. Sanders said at an event to roll out major climate change legislation. "We are going to make this bill stronger. People are going to say ‘Thank you America for taking us in a new direction.'"    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, today introduced the Kerry-Boxer legislation to create clean energy jobs, reduce pollution, and protect American security by enhancing domestic energy production and combating global climate change.

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act will cut carbon pollution and stimulate the economy by creating millions of jobs in the clean energy sector.    » read more »

Statement of Senator John Kerry

09/30/2009 -- “The ink wasn’t even dry on the The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act before the same tired attacks and bold face distortions were launched by those committed to inaction. We predicted long ago that those on the other side would adopt the misleading jargon of oil companies, lobbyists, and special interests, which maximize their profits at the expense of progress.    » read more »

September 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D - Mass.), a senior member of the Finance Committee, introduced legislation today that would end Medicare discrimination by giving all seniors equal access to health care. The “Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2009” would give disabled beneficiaries and those with end-stage renal disease the same choices under Medicare as everyone else. The bill would prevent Medigap insurers from discriminating against beneficiaries with disabilities and seniors with end-stage renal diseases.    » read more »

Call for Reduction in Hydrofluorocarbons Signals U.S. Commitment to Global Climate Agreement

September 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the Obama Administration’s proposal to eliminate dangerous emissions known as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as part of an international treaty to protect the ozone layer.

The treaty, known as the Montreal Protocol, currently excludes regulations for HFCs which Kerry has called “significantly more powerful greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide,” warning that the emissions’ damage “is only going to grow if we don't act in the short term.”    » read more »

06/19/2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leading into the final week before Albania’s parliamentary elections, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN), along with Senators Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), issued the following joint statement announcing the Senate’s passage of a resolution recognizing Albania’s democratic achievements:    » read more »