Biden Signs Executive Order Addressing Hurricane Ian

By Kaitlan Collins (Brooke Lynch)

Biden signed his first executive order of this year’s Congress session this Wednesday, October 19. The executive order provided relief to the victims of Hurricane Ian after it caused $120 billion in damages.

Photo: Biden signs his executive order

Secretary Deb Haaland then addressed the executive order, stating it would help the ongoing climate crisis which she believes has led to worsening natural disasters such as Hurricane Ian. Haaland described the Biden administration will “begin to combat the effects of climate change” with this first executive order.

Haaland urged senators to help further Biden’s climate agenda, referencing the Inflation Reduction Act Biden worked with Senators to pass which “not only gave more jobs to Americans but simultaneously added more climate change provisions in our government.”

When asked about the repercussions new climate provisions would have on American jobs in areas such as coal mining Haaland responded, “I do understand that there are states that do deal with coal mines and have their economies built on that but we’re trying to progress as a nation towards cleaner energy.

Some senators were concerned about the implications of Haaland’s speech, worrying on behalf of their constituents who work jobs that Biden is hoping to kill with more climate change provisions. Senator McConnell questioned, “How are you addressing the people who are getting left in the dust by all of this climate legislation?” Haaland responded that the Biden administration is committed to adding more jobs for Americans rooted in clean energy to ensure we “lead our country toward a more cleaner state.”

Biden has made it abundantly clear he won’t be backing down in his fight against climate change. It will be left for senators to decide whether they want to help aid or prevent Biden’s hopes for America’s future with climate legislation.