Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) “called climate change a bigger public health threat than AIDS, malaria and pandemic flu” before a vote on Wednesday on a bill aimed at thwarting Environmental Protection Agency climate regulations, The Hill’s “E2-Wire” blog reports.

“Capps and several other liberal Democrats spoke out Wednesday morning in opposition to the legislation, authored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.). The lawmakers, who were joined by officials from the American Lung Association and the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the Upton bill would harm public health,” according to the blog. Capps highlighted a 2009 Lancet article and said climate change could be the “biggest global health threat of the 21st century” (Restuccia, 4/6).

The House on Thursday is expected to pass the legislation aimed at blocking federal regulation of carbon dioxide emissions, but the Senate rejected the bill on Wednesday, The Hill’s “Overnight Energy” blog reports (Restuccia/Geman, 4/6).