AOC brings BACK the 'Green New Deal': Squad member reintroduces her drastic plan
Democratic lawmakers on Thursday reintroduced their 'green new deal' bill to in a decade while creating millions of well-paying jobs. Led by Reps. and Sen. Ed Markey, they said it was vital step towards easing the climate crisis and putting the U.S. in poll position to capitalize on the switch to renewable energy. But critics say it could cost the nation more than $90 trillion. 'For so long, our movement towards a sustainable future has been divided with really just this false notion that we have to choose between our planet and our economy,' said Ocasio-Cortez at a news conference outside the U.S. . The bill would provide both, she added, emphasizing 20 million union jobs and investments in mass transit systems and infrastructure for electrical vehicle. 'When we first introduced the Green New Deal, we were told that our vision for the future was too aspirational,' Ocasio-Cortez added. 'Four years later, we see core tenets of the Green New Deal reflected in the Inflation Reduction Act the largest ever federal investment in fighting climate change, with a focus on creating good, green jobs.' In so doing she headed off the obvious question. If they couldn't get it passed when Democrats controlled Congress then what point is there now, when Republicans hold the House? The aim is instead to influence the debate about climate change and next steps. Critics insist the plan is too expensive and that renewable energy is not yet advanced enough to make such a rapid shift from fossil fuels. The right-leaning American Action Forum estimated after its release four years ago that the legislation could cost as much as $93 trillion over a decade. The legislation is being reintroduced on the fourth anniversary of the original resolution. Among the supporters is Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Florida who was not even in Congress four years ago. 'Usually in this building, when we talk about cost, we talk about dollars and cents,' Frost said. 'But the real cost is human life, people, communities, and so were here today to be their voice and work with them to build a livable future and to build a world thats more than a livable future, its about a thriving, livable planet.' Earlier President announced $1 billion in funding to help developing nations fight and said he planned to find $500 million to curb deforestation in the Amazon rainforest during a virtual meeting with leaders from some of the world's richest nations. The cash for the Green Climate Fund marks a resumption of U.S. funding after it was neglected by the Trump administration. It will be used to help poorer countries build stronger climate infrastructure. 'Today, we have to do more than recognize the climate challenges we face,' Biden said. 'Seems to me we have to recommit ourselves to action while still while we still have the time.'