Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso spearheaded legislation with 23 Republican lawmakers that would mandate Senate approval for the U.S. to join or rejoin any international climate agreement.
Mr. Barrasso, Wyoming Republican, introduced the No Climate Treaties Act on the same week the U.S. officially withdrew from the Paris Agreement.
According to the bill, any such climate deal, including the Paris pact, must be dealt with as a treaty requiring a two-thirds vote in the Senate, according to Article II of the Constitution.
The legislation also would restrict the use of federal funds to implement or comply with any international climate agreement that has not secured this Senate approval.
The legislation has an uphill battle to pass the Senate, unless GOP lawmakers find a way to slip it into a second reconciliation package this Congress.
Former President Obama in 2016 led negotiations and formally had the U.S. join the Paris Agreement, setting a target to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions after bypassing the Senate two-thirds approval rule for a treaty requirement, by saying the Paris deal was not a treaty.
Mr. Trump formally withdrew the U.S. from the agreement during his first term on Nov. 4, 2020.
However, former President Biden had the U.S. rejoin the agreement on Feb. 19, 2021, and introduced the green energy-focused Inflation Reduction Act.
Upon his return to the White House, Mr. Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025, to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement again, with the goal to increase fossil fuel production.
“Democrat administrations have a history of ignoring the will of the American people and bypassing Senate approval to unilaterally join costly international climate treaties,” said Mr. Barrasso.
“Climate treaties, like the Paris climate agreement, often set unworkable targets designed to put America at a competitive disadvantage with other countries.”
Other GOP senators signing on to the bill are Roger Marshall of Kansas, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Mike Lee of Utah, Rick Scott of Florida, Ashley Moody of Florida, John Hoeven of North Dakota, John Kennedy of Louisiana, John Cornyn of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, James Risch of Idaho, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, John Boozman of Arkansas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Ted Cruz of Texas, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Tim Sheehy of Montana, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.