Joint Letter from Non-Profit Groups to Members of the House of Representatives on H.R. 9

Representative Kathy Castor
2052 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

CC: Members of the House of Representatives

Re: Joint Letter from Non-Profit Groups to Members of the House of Representatives on H.R. 9

Dear Representative,

The undersigned organizations strongly urge you to oppose H. R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which if enacted would reverse President Trump’s wise decision to withdraw the United States from the UN Paris climate treaty. This legislative attempt to re-instate the Paris climate treaty would inflict permanent and irreparable damage to consumers and job-creating businesses across the country.

It would also place the American economy at a global disadvantage. Although other nations have ostensibly signed on to the Paris treaty, most either set weak targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions or are failing to meet their targets. H. R. 9 would give the force of law to the stringent emissions reduction targets set unilaterally by President Obama under Paris. It thus would lock America into costly energy-rationing schemes that our major trade competitors like China are not undertaking.  

The opportunity costs of H. R. 9 are especially great given that America is emerging as the world leader in total fossil fuel production – coal, oil, and natural gas. The “keep it in the ground” approach embodied by H. R. 9 would force us to forego many energy industry jobs, undercut our ability to compete head-to-head against OPEC and Russia in energy export markets, and squander the tremendous energy cost advantage enjoyed by the American manufacturing sector that has been growing since President Trump took office. It would also filter down to consumers and result in higher electric rates, higher natural gas bills for home heating, higher gasoline prices, and higher prices for nearly all goods and services. In sum, H. R. 9 would bring an end to America’s burgeoning energy dominance and rob us of its many benefits.

The only way for federal climate legislation to avoid strong opposition is if the actual impacts are left vague. So it is with H. R. 9, particularly given its highly truncated debate at the committee level. In contrast, the Green New Deal resolution goes into considerable detail about its extensive mandates to micromanage the way Americans live and work, and for that reason it was the subject of widespread opposition and ridicule. Indeed, every one of the Green New Deal’s Senate sponsors abandoned it when brought to a vote in March. However, it should be noted that the tough emissions reduction targets in H. R. 9 can only be met by instituting many of the provisions in the Green New Deal. Thus a vote for H. R. 9 is really a vote for key parts of the Green New Deal. 

For these reasons, we urge you to vote No on H. R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. Thank you for considering our views.

Sincerely,

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