Article snippet: Democrats are getting their special committee on climate change next year, but it won't be the plan climate activists and Rep.-elect MORE (D-N.Y.) championed. Likely future House Speaker MORE (D-Fla.). “She will bring great experience, energy and urgency to the existential threat of the climate crisis,” Pelosi said in a statement announcing Castor’s new role. “This committee will be critical to the entire Congress’s mission to respond to the urgency of this threat, while creating the good-paying, green jobs of the future.” In a statement Castor promised the new panel will reflect the “urgency to reduce carbon pollution” and will emphasize the creation of clean energy jobs. Castor has previously said the panel will pull ideas from the Green New Deal — a comprehensive plan to fight climate change championed by millennial activists along with Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives. But the panel isn't expected to have some of the powers demanded by progressive, such as subpoena power or legislative authority — meaning it can't pass bills to the floor for a full House vote. Castor also refused to mandate that all committee members reject political contributions from fossil fuel companies, saying it would violate the First Amendment. Progressives, including Ocasio-Cortez’s office, already are criticizing the new panel as an insufficient step forward. “This committee, if it turns out that the rumors about it are true, sounds about as useful as a screen door on a submarin... Link to the full article to read more