“The Wilderness Society applauds Senators Boxer, Reid, Lieberman, and Warner for the leadership and courage they have shown throughout this week's historic debate on legislation to reduce the emission of heat-trapping gases. This morning, a bipartisan group of 48 Senators voted to move forward with strong action on climate security. An additional six absent Senators expressed their support in letters, bringing the total to 54. While this vote fell short of the 60 votes needed for the bill to proceed, it did confirm that the Senate is growing greener as the climate worsens. We can now say that we are an election away from the United States taking responsibility for its share of the global warming problem and leading the world toward a clean energy future.

"Opponents of solutions to our global warming crisis may have successfully obstructed the Senate's consideration of the Climate Security Act, but they have failed to repeal the laws of Nature. The land mass of the United States is literally shrinking as the oceans warm and the rising seas flood inland. Forests are falling to disease and reservoirs are drying up. While Congress sits on its hands, individuals can install high-efficiency light bulbs and drive less—and they are doing so—but only our government can establish the rules for a low-carbon economy that offers hope in the long run. It cannot happen too soon.

"This delay means that the costs of this looming catastrophe continue to grow and the much-needed rapid deployment of clean energy solutions will wait another year. One thing remains clear: doing nothing about climate change remains by far the most costly and dangerous course for our nation, our economy, and our treasured natural heritage.

"The House of Representatives should pick up where the Senate left off and quickly move to consider legislation that would reduce the emissions of global warming pollution and provide the resources that will be needed to allow at-risk communities and vulnerable natural areas to survive temperature rises that are already unavoidable.

"By continuing to push ahead toward a clean energy future, Congress can recharge America's economy and lay the foundation for a stronger and more secure tomorrow."