Statement: Rep. Hoyer bill would address climate impacts of deforestation

U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer introduced a bill Wednesday that would establish a $9 billion trust fund to tackle climate emissions caused by global deforestation. The bill, known as America Mitigating and Achieving Zero-emissions Originating from Nature for the 21st Century Act bill (AMAZON21), follows President Joe Biden’s pledge at COP26 to reduce global deforestation.  The AMAZON21 legislation could remove up to an estimated 180 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year, or the equivalent of offsetting emissions from every U.S. passenger vehicle for two years.