Two Florida members form bipartisan climate caucus

Two members of Florida’s congressional delegation have launched a bipartisan caucus focused on climate change. 

Reps. Ted Deutch (D) and Carlos Curbelo (R) announced the formation of the Climate Solutions Caucus on Monday, calling it the “first bipartisan task force on climate change established in the U.S. House of Representatives.”

{mosads}The caucus, the pair said in a statement, will hold meetings to educate members on climate change’s impact on “our economy, security, environment and infrastructure,” as well as possible solutions for it. 

“The launch of the Climate Solutions Caucus sends a powerful message not just to our colleagues in the House but to the American people that a bipartisan dialogue on climate change is actually possible,” Deutch said in a statement. 

“I believe there’s a real appetite in Congress for bipartisan solutions on climate change, and I look forward to working with Congressman Curbelo to bring more members from across the country and across the aisle on board.” 

Curbelo has one of the GOP’s more moderate records on climate change. He is one a dozen members to co-sponsor a resolution blaming human activity for climate change, and he wrote a Miami Herald op-ed in October calling it “one of the major challenges of our time.”

Florida is considered especially susceptible to climate change and the rising sea levels scientists say will come from it. 

“By exploring policy options that address the impacts of a changing climate we can effectively mitigate the inevitable effects it will have on our environment, as well as our economy,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to working with [Deutch] to ensure the protection of Florida’s communities and our nation as a whole.”