WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today released the following statement on the committee’s approval of the Kigali Amendment, a global agreement to transition away from ozone-depleting hydrofluorocarbons to safer alternatives.

“I am pleased to support today’s committee action to advance Senate approval for the Kigali Amendment and strengthen the domestic manufacturing base. The Amendment is of high importance to American manufacturers, particularly those in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry. A study by the Interindustry Forecasting Project at the University of Maryland indicated that the phasedown of HFCs will create 33,000 new U.S. manufacturing jobs. When adding indirect and induced effects, this figure rises to 150,000. Unanimously reporting the Amendment to the Senate floor for consideration is a significant step forward that will benefit our economy and American consumers.”

Senator Cardin also serves as a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW).

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