Pelosi Leads Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to United Kingdom, India

'Our conversations reinforced the importance of joint efforts by our governments to increase international security and address the world-wide climate crisis,' Pelosi said.  'These critical challenges can only be successfully met through international collaboration, including the participation of developing countries.'

The leaders focused on current efforts in both countries on what Speaker Pelosi termed the 'flagship issue' of the New Direction Congress, addressing global climate crisis and working to achieve international agreement on slashing carbon emissions.  Both the British House of Commons and the U.S. House of Representatives are currently working on comprehensive climate control legislation.

British participants in the briefings with the congressional delegation included Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, and Secretary of State for the Environment Hilary Benn.  The congressional delegation was honored at a reception hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin, which provided for a lively interparliamentary exchange.

The congressional delegation includes Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming Edward Markey of Massachusetts, Ranking Member James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, Chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee George Miller of California, and Representatives Jim McDermott of Washington, Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, Anna Eshoo of California, Jay Inslee of Washington, Rush Holt of New Jersey and Hilda Solis of California.

The delegation arrived in India today for further meetings to discuss energy and environmental issues.