Story highlights Sen. Mitch McConnell criticizes U.S.-China deal as more of Obama's "ideological war on coal"

Sen. Jim Inhofe says deal unfair and knocks Chinese pledge as "hollow and not believable"

Under the agreement, the U.S. will cut its 2005 level of carbon emissions by 26-28% by 2025

China vows to peak carbon emissions output, produce more energy from renewable sources by 2030

Washington (CNN) Top congressional Republican leaders quickly criticized the U.S.-China climate change pact to cut carbon emissions that President Barack Obama announced while traveling in Asia.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner and Sen. Jim Inhofe, who is expected to chair the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, slammed the agreement in statements released shortly after the deal was announced Wednesday.

"Our economy can't take the President's ideological War on Coal that will increase the squeeze on middle-class families and struggling miners," McConnell, who hails from the coal state of Kentucky, said. "This unrealistic plan, that the President would dump on his successor, would ensure higher utility rates and far fewer jobs."

JUST WATCHED U.S. and China reach new starting point Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH U.S. and China reach new starting point 01:55

President Barack Obama announced Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping that the U.S. will cut its 2005 level of carbon emissions by 26-28% by 2025 while China committed to creating more energy from zero-emission sources and begin reducing its emissions footprint by 2030.

Boehner called the deal another example of Obama's "job-crushing policies."

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