WASHINGTON, DC - Flanked by over a hundred young people and several of his Senate colleagues, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today joined Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT) in introducing legislation to slow and reverse the devastating effects of global climate change. During the rally, the Senators unveiled The Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Act of 2006. This legislation sets out a roadmap of targets, requirements and incentives to help the U.S. reduce emissions and stabilize global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time, and the United States must provide meaningful action to address this problem. Climate change affects our environment, economy, and security, said Reed. We must take steps at the local, state, and national levels to slow, stop, and reverse global warming emissions. It is time for the federal government to step up in this fight, and that is what this legislation seeks to do.Global warming is leading to increased energy and water demands, and contributing to stronger storms throughout the area. The rising ocean temperatures also bring diseases that affect oysters, scallops and quahogs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that the ocean around Rhode Island could rise as much as 12 inches in the next 50 years.Reed also noted that evidence shows that in Providence, the average temperature in the summer has increased 3.3 degrees over the last century. Higher temperatures allow insects that carry disease, such as mosquitoes and ticks, to show up in new areas, cover a wider range, and have longer periods of time when they are active. Rhode Island has the second-highest incident of Lyme disease in the nation. Global climate change is a major concern for Rhode Island. It affects our coastal communities, drinking water, energy supply, economy, and public health, said Reed. Tourism is a very important part of Rhode Islands economy and global warming brings stronger storms that can wash away beaches, roads, and homes. Our efforts to reverse these trends will not come without cost, but we simply can not afford the price of inaction. The Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Act sets a clear goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050. To achieve this goal, the bill calls for greater investment in renewable energy and improved energy efficiency. The bill would also reduce air pollution, create new jobs for a more sustainable economy, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.Now that it has been introduced, The Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Act must be approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. It will then be considered by the full Senate.