As the top Republican on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, Garret Graves is a key leader pressing his party to promote its own climate change initiatives as an alternative to the Democratic Green New Deal. Graves sees a pragmatic approach to environmental issues rooted in economic competitiveness and policies focused on climate resilience and increasing energy from carbon-free sources such as nuclear and hydropower. His interest in climate issues stems from his experience heading the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority after Hurricane Katrina and representing a flood-prone district.