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US House supports emissions bill US House supports emissions bill
(30 minutes later)
The US House of Representatives has passed a historic climate change bill aimed at reducing the country's emissions. The US House of Representatives has passed a climate change bill aimed at reducing the country's emissions.
The legislation will put curbs on pollution and apply market principles to attempts to tackle global warming.The legislation will put curbs on pollution and apply market principles to attempts to tackle global warming.
It was passed by a narrow margin of 219 votes to 212, but critics say this key election pledge of President Barack Obama will cost jobs and raise prices. It was passed by a narrow margin of 219 votes to 212. President Barack Obama said the vote represented "enormous progress".
The president said the vote represented "enormous progress". But the bill still has to be passed by the US Senate before it can become law, and it faces another tough fight.
However, it still has to be passed by the US Senate before it can become law, and it will face another tough fight there. "Today the House of Representatives took historic action with the passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act," Mr Obama said after the vote.
Mr Obama earlier said the Clean Energy and Security Act, which seeks cut emissions by 17% by 2020 and force a shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources, would "open the door to a new, clean energy economy" and reduce US dependence on imported oil. "It's a bold and necessary step that holds the promise of creating new industries and millions of new jobs, decreasing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil."
It would also create thousands of jobs and "finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy", said the president. 'Job-killing bill'
If this bill becomes law, Americans will pay higher taxes every time we turn on our lights John Culberson Texas representative Correspondents say the bill was passed after a long and heated session.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hoped the passing of the bill would allow for "a celebration of American leadership taking its rightful place". It seeks to cut emissions from 2005 levels by 17% by 2020, introduce a carbon trading system and and force a shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources.
Supporters say it will create a new "green" industry, boosting jobs and innovation, and reduce US dependence on foreign oil.
But opponents of the bill, both Republicans and Democrats, say it will lead to massive job losses in the US and impose greater taxes on every American.But opponents of the bill, both Republicans and Democrats, say it will lead to massive job losses in the US and impose greater taxes on every American.
Republican Indiana Representative Mike Pence, said it amounted to "the largest tax increase in American history under the guise of climate change". Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner said energy costs would soar, and called the legislation "the biggest job-killing bill that has ever been on the floor of the House".
Texan Republican Representative John Culberson said it was "equivalent to a light switch tax". The battle now moves to the Senate, where correspondents say it will face a rough ride. It is not yet clear when the Senate might debate the bill.
"If this bill becomes law, Americans will pay higher taxes every time we turn on our lights," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. The legislation has been widely supported by environmentalists but there are concerns that it will not go far enough towards addressing climate change.
The bill has been widely supported by environmentalists but there are concerns that it will not go far enough towards addressing climate change.