Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, on Thursday vowed to make energy independence and climate change legislation the next focus of Democrats’ congressional agenda, as the clock stopped on the first 100 legislative hours of the new Congress.

Flanked by giant posters detailing the legislation passed during the first 100 hours of the Democratic- controlled Congress, including minimum wage legislation, Ms Pelosi said she would create a new select committee to focus attention on energy independence and global warming. “I want a package of legislation through the committees by July 4 towards fully declaring our energy independence.”