Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that she will create a select committee devoted exclusively to global warming within the next two weeks. The new Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will advise and make recommendations but will not have legislative authority. This was done primarily as a concession to several Democratic chairmen, like House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI), who criticized the need for the committee and was worried about a "jurisdictional grab." In response, the Speaker has ordered the Committee Chairmen who have jurisdiction over some part of the global warming issue to produce legislation addressing the problem by June.
Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), who has advocated raising mileage standards for cars, trucks and SUVs and is one of the House's biggest critics of oil companies and U.S. automakers, is a top candidate to lead the new select committee.
Anticipating Pelosi's plans, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI), said he will hold hearings and advance legislation on global warming. Dingell also released a memo outlining nine key areas he would investigate on global warming. The list includes a potential hearing with former Vice President Al Gore and sessions devoted to the causes and consequences, policy options and state, local and private efforts.