BOSTON (AP) — Former Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis of South Carolina has been named the 2015 recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for bucking party politics and reversing his stance on climate change.
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston announced Monday that Inglis will receive the award for political courage during a May 3 ceremony.
Inglis was on the House Science Committee and served as a ranking member of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee. He initially opposed efforts to address climate change.
But through interactions with scientists and discussions with his children, Inglis changed his views and began advocating for a carbon tax to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The change drew criticism from fellow Republicans, and he lost his 2010 re-election bid.
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