Golden Votes to Keep U.S. in Paris Agreement, Protect Maine’s Environment

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) helped pass legislation today to confront climate change and maintain American leadership on the international stage. Golden voted to pass the Climate Action Now Act, a bill that would block the removal of the United States from the Paris Agreement and direct the administration to create a plan to meet the pollution reduction goals included in the agreement.

"A healthy environment is key to our way of life here in Maine," said Congressman Golden. "We have to protect Maine's environment – and the thousands of jobs that depend on it – from climate change. If our forests, water, or climate go bad, it would destroy our forest products, fishing, and farming industries. The United States must honor the commitments it made in the Paris Agreement. The bill we passed today will help protect Maine's environment and Maine jobs by maintaining America's leadership in the fight against climate change rather than let our country take a backseat to China and other foreign powers in the global race for energy efficiency and new energy technologies."

The Paris Agreement is an international agreement composed of nearly 200 countries who are committed to finding solutions to fighting climate change and work towards the necessary investments for a sustainable future. In 2017, the administration announced its intention to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement, making the U.S. the only country that intends to withdraw from the global pact.

Last month, the Maine State Legislature passed – and the governor signed – a joint resolution urging Congress and the president to remain in the Paris Agreement.