House Dems reach global warming bill deal

WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- U.S. House Democrats said Tuesday evening they have ironed out differences on legislation to fight global warming, setting the table for a Friday vote.

"We have an agreement, and we're moving forward on Friday," House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., told reporters Tuesday evening. "We're going to pass this bill."

Waxman's comments came after he and Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson reached agreement on language that meets Peterson's concern for farmers and other rural interests, the Washington publication Politico reported.

Under the deal, the Agriculture Department will oversee the land offset program for farmers. The House also will seek further guidance from the Obama administration about the Environmental Protection Agency's role.

Politico said Waxman will ask the EPA to retract its new requirements that farmers offset rural land developed elsewhere. Both were major points of contention for rural House members and agriculture organizations opposed to the measure.

"This is a good environmental bill," Waxman said.

Democratic leaders had released a 1,201-page version of the bill late Monday -- up from the 986-page bill passed by Energy and Commerce Committee last week.