DeKalb Times

President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord while maintaining his commitment to environmental stewardship and innovative solutions to reduce emissions was the right move, Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) said in a statement recently.

“We are called to be good stewards of the environment, properly using our natural resources for the benefit of humanity and the planet,” Hultgren said, according to the press release. “America has long led the world in developing new, cleaner technologies that protect the environment and help create jobs—regardless of government mandates or country agreements. That tradition of leading in energy innovation and reduction in emissions will continue.”

Hultgren said the accord, which the United States entered under the leadership of former President Barack Obama, should have been approved only through Senate ratification. He said he thinks Trump will continue to pursue a foreign policy of putting America first.

“In Congress, I will continue encouraging energy solutions that promote good stewardship of the environment, provide Americans with true options and bring jobs back to the United States,” Hultgren said in his statement. “Innovation, not regulation, remains the answer for lower emissions. I will continue supporting our national labs like Argonne that are making energy storage a realistic solution for bringing intermittent renewables online in a modern energy system.”