Policy record
Senate rejects amendment affirming human activity significantly causes climate change
Federal (U.S. Senate) · 2015-01-21
← Republicans · Timeline anchor
Summary
During the Keystone debate, Sen. Brian Schatz offered a simple climate sentence: climate change is real, and human activity significantly contributes. It needed 60 votes. It got 50–49. A companion that dropped the word "significantly" also failed. A one-line "real and not a hoax" amendment passed 98–1. Harry Reid did not vote. Both independents voted yes. The Senate could say the words. It would not say humans significantly cause it.
Vote
Schatz amendment (climate change is real and human activity significantly contributes) failed 50–49. Sixty votes were required.
| Party | Yea | Nay | Not voting | Yea share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republicans | 5 | 49 | 0 | 9% 5/54 |
| Democrats | 43 | 0 | 1 | 98% 43/44 |
| Independents | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% 2/2 |
| Total | 50 | 49 | 1 |
Yea share is yeas as a percent of the full party, including members who did not vote. Independents King (ME) and Sanders (VT) both yea. Reid (D-NV) did not vote. Five Republicans voted yea. Source: Senate Roll Call Vote 12, 114th Congress.