Sanders defends vote against USMCA: 'Not a single damn mention' of climate change

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) released a video on Friday explaining his vote Thursday against the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade deal (USMCA), saying that it included “not a single damn mention” of climate change. 

“There is not one reference to the words climate change,” Sanders said in the video posted to Twitter. “Here you have a major trade agreement which in fact will make it easier for the large oil companies to destroy our planet.”

He also repeated his concerns that it could result in U.S. jobs being outsourced to “low-wage” countries. 

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Sanders, who was one of only 10 senators to oppose the deal that overwhelmingly passed the Senate on Thursday, had previously expressed concerns about it, including during Tuesday night’s presidential debate. 

“Every major environmental organization has said no to this new trade agreement because it does not even have the phrase ‘climate change’ in it,” he said. “And given the fact that climate change is right now the greatest threat facing this planet, I will not vote for a trade agreement that does not incorporate very, very strong principles to significantly lower fossil fuel emissions in the world.”

Sanders split on the issue with fellow progressive candidate Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.), who expressed support for the deal during the debate, saying that “it will give some relief to our farmers.”

The Democratic senators who joined Sanders in opposing the agreement on Thursday included Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Schumer requests briefing with White House coronavirus task force as cases rise Schumer on Trump’s tweet about 75-year-old protester: He ‘should go back to hiding in the bunker’ MORE (N.Y.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Kamala Harris (Calif.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Jack Reed (R.I), Brian Schatz (Hawaii). Also voting “no” was GOP Sen. Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyGOP senators push for quick, partial reopening of economy NSA improperly collected US phone records in October, new documents show Overnight Defense: Pick for South Korean envoy splits with Trump on nuclear threat | McCain blasts move to suspend Korean military exercises | White House defends Trump salute of North Korean general MORE (Pa.).