Obama says confident Senate to act on climate bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Monday he was confident the U.S. Senate would act on landmark climate change legislation after the House of Representatives passed a bill last week to reduce emissions.

The House of Representatives passed a climate change bill on Friday that would require large companies, including utilities and manufacturers, to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases associated with global warming by 17 percent by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050, from 2005 levels.

Prospects of passage in the Senate, however, are unclear.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason)