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The Latest: Pelosi stops short of endorsing Green New Deal

Posted February 07, 2019 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks with reporters during her weekly news conference, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on congressional Democrats and proposals to address climate change (all times local):

11:50 a.m.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she welcomes "the enthusiasm" of backers of a Green New Deal, but she stopped short of supporting it.

She spoke Thursday, shortly before Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, unveiled legislation aimed at combating climate change and creating jobs in renewable energy.

The California Democrat told reporters she hadn't seen the proposal. But she welcomes "the enthusiasm that is there."

Pelosi said, "I welcome the new deal and any other proposals." She said she wants to hear from a newly established select committee on climate change, which will consider options not named in the Green New Deal. Ocasio-Cortez is not on the panel.

11 a.m.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped eight Democrats to serve on a special committee to address climate change. The new panel does not include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who is calling for a Green New Deal to transform the U.S. economy to combat climate change.

Pelosi said Reps. Ben Ray LujÃƒ¡n of New Mexico, Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, Joe Neguse of Colorado, Donald McEachin of Virginia and Sean Casten of Illinois will serve on the panel, along with three Californians: Julia Brownley, Jared Huffman and Mike Levin.

The panel will be chaired by Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida, who was chosen in December.

Pelosi said the new panel, which also will include six Republicans, "will be vital in advancing ambitious progress for our planet."

6:11 a.m.

Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are calling for a Green New Deal intended to transform the U.S. economy to combat climate change and create thousands of jobs in renewable energy.

The freshman lawmaker and veteran Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts are teaming up on the plan.

A joint resolution drafted by them and expected to be introduced Thursday sets a goal to meet all power demand in the U.S. through clean, renewable and zero-emission energy sources by 2030. Use of wind and solar power would be dramatically increased under the plan.

The Green New Deal goes far beyond the Clean Power Plan proposed by President Barack Obama.

President Donald Trump has scrapped Obama's plan. Trump and the Republican-controlled Senate are likely to oppose this one, too.

FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2019, file photo, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Democrats including veteran Markey and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are calling for a Green New Deal intended to transform the U.S. economy to combat climate change and create jobs in renewable energy. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2019, file photo, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (D-New York) waves to the crowd after speaking at Women's Unity Rally in Lower Manhattan in New York. Democrats including Ocasio-Cortez of New York and veteran Sen. Ed Markey of Mass. are calling for a Green New Deal intended to transform the U.S. economy to combat climate change and create jobs in renewable energy. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) The Associated Press

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