# What is Congress up to?

*Published:* 2007-06-12
*Author:* Mark MacLeod

*Today’s guest columnist is [Mark MacLeod](http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagID=940), Director of Special Projects for our national climate campaign.*

When it comes to global warming, this is looking to be an action-packed Congress. There are no fewer than seven global warming bills under discussion. While the titles make the bills sound very much alike, they differ in both subtle and significant ways.

Our climate policy team put together two resources to help keep it all straight:

- [The elements of strong climate policy.](http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagID=1003) The most important job of climate policy is to cut emissions enough to avoid the worst consequences of a warming planet. Policies that include all four of these elements will allow us achieve that most efficiently.
- [A comparison chart of the bills in the House and Senate.](http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagID=1075) This is a quick summary of the major proposals, with key characteristics called out in a consistent format.

Let us know if these resources are helpful, and if there’s anything more we can shed light on.