The sweeping Green New Deal resolution put forward by Sen.
Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on
Thursday has elicited concern from the Democratic head of the House's aviation subcommittee.
The 14-page resolution calls for overhauling U.S.
transportation systems to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions "as
much as is technologically feasible." It specifically mentions placing a
focus on high-speed rail. No mention is made of aviation.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Controversy, however, was stirred by Ocasio-Cortez, who
provided more details of her Green Deal vision in an overview of the
resolution. There, she called for building out high-speed rail "at a scale
where air travel stops becoming necessary."
It was that explanation that got the attention of House
aviation subcommittee chairman Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), whose district includes
Everett, home of the Boeing factory.
In a statement Thursday, Larsen seemed torn between his
support for green technology and his concerns about Ocasio-Cortez's view of
aviation.
"It is difficult to support the resolution right now
when one of the lead sponsors says one of the intentions is to make air travel
unnecessary," Larsen said. "I cannot sell that position to the 23,000
women and men who live and work in Washington's Second District who support the
U.S. aviation economy by making the safest aircraft and aerospace products in
the world. There is a lot of good in the resolution, but I have a lot of
questions."
Not all Democrats who are influential on aviation policy are
as concerned about Ocasio Cortez's view as Larsen. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.),
who chairs the House transportation committee, is among the resolution's
co-sponsors.
The aspirational resolution also calls for an
all-encompassing overhaul of the American energy system over the next decade
with the goal achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions while improving
economic prosperity and decreasing social injustice.
Among its 11 Senate co-sponsors, all Democrats, are several
who have either announced presidential bids or are thought to be considering a
bid. Sixty-six members of the House, also all Democrats, have co-sponsored the
bill.