Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act represents the type of ambitious climate action we need from Congress. This kind of comprehensive market-based approach is an important pillar of long-term efforts to decarbonize the U.S. economy. Our work with leading businesses highlights an economywide carbon price as an effective, efficient way to drive investment in the low carbon transition. Importantly, market-based approaches must also take care to avoid disproportionate impacts on communities vulnerable to the risks of transition and a dividend is one approach that could help to address these concerns.
Environmental Defense Fund
Urgent action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our economy. Representative Deutch and his colleagues are making an important contribution to the search for climate solutions. An approach like this would drive investment and innovation to cut emissions. Importantly, this bill also includes a climate backstop, a provision that ties the carbon fee to emissions reduction performance and helps keep us on track to meet vital pollution reduction goals. This measure could be one of several pieces of a comprehensive and inclusive approach that begins to address the significant economic, health, and security threats we face from climate change. We look forward to working with Rep. Deutch and others in Congress – along with stakeholders most impacted by and knowledgeable about solutions – to design strong climate policies that significantly reduce local air pollution, address environmental injustice, and drive investments in underserved communities.
Evangelical Environmental Network
As evangelical Christians, we are called to be good stewards of God’s creation and ensure all children and families have a healthy environment to grow and thrive in. Climate change and carbon pollution, however, already threaten the health and safety of Americans across the country,” said Dr. Jessica Moerman, Senior Director for Science and Policy at the Evangelical Environmental Network. “We support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act and other carbon pricing proposals that simultaneously reduce carbon pollution, advance the clean energy economy, protect low- and middle-income families from cost increases, and keep American businesses competitive on the world stage. We are grateful to Representative Deutch for his continued leadership and look forward to working with him and the bill’s sponsors to make carbon pricing a cost-effective solution to the climate and pollution crises.
Friends Committee on National Legislation
The FCNL community is pleased to see the introduction of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividends Act (EICDA). We have long believed that carbon pricing can be an effective market-based tool to help reflect the true cost of fossil fuel production on our society. Complementary policies, in addition to carbon pricing, will also be needed to protect and benefit the many low-income, frontline, and communities of color who have suffered the downside of fossil fuel extraction and production. Overall, we believe that the EICDA represents an important step forward and can serve to further strengthen the U.S. response to the climate crisis.
Trout Unlimited
Climate change is no longer a distant problem— it’s right here, right now in the form of rising temperatures, unpredictable floods, worsening droughts, and more intense wildfires. Climate change threatens the resilience of native trout and salmon fisheries, from the Rio Grande cutthroat trout of Colorado and New Mexico to the Eastern brook trout of Appalachia and the Northeast. Trout Unlimited believes it is time for Congress to seriously address the root cause of climate change. Congressman Deutch’s bill, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, would use market mechanisms to substantially reduce carbon emissions—and help us save our fisheries, the health of our communities, and the watersheds on which they rely.
Alliance for Market Solutions
We commend Congressmen Ted Deutch and Francis Rooney for reintroducing their carbon tax legislation. They, along with economists, recognize that a carbon tax is the serious solution to climate change. A revenue-neutral carbon tax can spur economic growth and transform our energy economy, unlike other non-market-based proposals like the Green New Deal that rely on subsidies and regulations.
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions – C2ES
This ambitious, bipartisan proposal underscores the growing momentum in Washington for climate solutions. The recent National Climate Assessment and IPCC Special Report make clearer than ever that we need action now. This kind of comprehensive market-based approach is key to decarbonizing the U.S. economy. It can protect our communities and infrastructure from growing climate risks while contributing to strong, sustainable economic growth.
The Climate Leadership Council
Carbon dividends is the free-market solution that would reduce emissions while growing our economy and driving innovation. It is a framework that has already garnered support from leading environmentalists, businesses and thought leaders and would ensure that American households come out ahead. The introduction of this legislation reiterates that a carbon dividends policy can attract backing from lawmakers on both sides.
Environmental Defense Fund
Every day we see new examples of the serious damage that climate change is doing across the country, and new evidence that we have to move quickly to protect Americans families and communities. Fortunately, we’re seeing renewed momentum to find climate change solutions – on Capitol Hill and around the country. Today’s bill is another inspiring step in the right direction, and we are grateful for the leadership of Representatives Deutch, Rooney, Crist, Eshoo, Peters, Chu and Lipinski.
The Episcopal Church
The U.S. must take steps to lower carbon emissions and expand renewable energy, and the Church recognizes an effective way to accelerate the transition is through market forces. At the 79th General Convention, the Episcopal Church adopted a resolution to support a carbon fee and dividend model or another carbon pricing system. A carbon pricing system would increase the cost of fossil fuels to reflect their full societal costs… Resources: H.R. 763 – Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019
Friends Committee on National Legislation
FCNL has worked for years to cultivate the space in Congress for meaningful, bipartisan action on climate change. We are pleased that the EICDA helps advance the conversation on carbon pricing between both political parties. We believe that more legislation beyond only a carbon tax will be needed to protect and benefit low-income, frontline, and communities of color. We also believe that the agricultural sector and the military, which both receive exemptions under the EICDA, must transition to non-fossil fuel energy sources in order to fully address the problem of climate change. Overall, we believe that this legislation helps build an important foundation for robust dialogue and action on climate change in the 116th Congress.
Hazon
Hazon supports the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act as an effective, bipartisan response to the climate crisis. We are facing a global climate emergency, and people of all faiths have a responsibility to take action in order to prevent the most devastating consequences and to preserve a habitable planet for future generations. Scholarly analysis (Columbia University) shows that the EICDA will result in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, reduced air pollution, a shift to cleaner energy sources, and have a net positive financial effect on low- and middle-income households.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
All carbon fees collected, less administrative costs, will be returned to consumers through a monthly dividend. This is essential, for together with our concern for the planet goes our concern for the most vulnerable people living on it. […] The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) applauds this bipartisan effort and its cosponsors. Now, more than ever, this nation needs lawmakers who will put aside partisan politics in order to find solutions to shared problems. Further, the PC(USA) supports passage and swift enactment of EICDA. It is an important bill that will move us toward fulfilling our moral mandate.
Protect our Winters
Protect Our Winters strongly supports setting an economy wide price on carbon, and therefore supports the new bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. Carbon pricing is a comprehensive strategy to emission reductions, mitigating climate change. This legislation, in particular, will reduce climate-driving greenhouse gas emissions while also benefiting both people and the economy. Given the majority of Americans believe Congress should do more to address our changing climate, Protect Our Winters is pleased to see Republicans and Democrats come together to sponsor this bill. Alongside the more than 75 percent of Americans that believe that carbon dioxide should be regulated as a pollutant, Protect Our Winters strongly supports the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group supports a price on carbon. Our position on H.R. 763 is support in principle. In particular, we look forward to working with the authors to specify how they will work with California and other jurisdictions with existing carbon pricing regimes to implement a coherent carbon pricing system, and identify suitable funding streams, or suitable ‘off-ramps’ for existing CA state programs dependent on cap and trade revenue.
Students for Carbon Dividends
As young people with many decades of life ahead, we understand the critical importance of addressing climate instability and in a manner compatible with continued economic growth and prosperity. A carbon dividends plan would unleash the greatest force on earth—American innovation—towards solving the climate challenge and safeguarding our nation’s security, freedom, and prosperity. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act is further evidence that a carbon dividends-style policy is the breakthrough solution we have been waiting for. It has shown an ability to unite Republicans and Democrats alike, and also aligns with the same framework outlined in the 2019 “Economists’ Statement on Carbon Dividends”—endorsed by a record-breaking 3500+ US economists. Momentum is clearly building on both sides for a climate solution, and we hope to see even more bipartisan agreement on carbon dividends-style policies ahead.
Trout Unlimited
Just as we learned in the 1990s that we had to move from the stream to the watershed scale to recover trout and salmon, we must reduce carbon emissions to slow climate change. For this reason, Trout Unlimited is supporting passage of common sense legislation such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.The time for band-aids is past. Nothing less than the future of trout and salmon; the future of fishing—the future for our children is at stake.
Unitarian Universalist Association
The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act incentivizes fossil fuel reduction, supports alternative energies, and sends money back into households. These are all excellent strategies for combating climate change. This legislation is supported by Unitarian Universalists across the country who are working hard to get it passed. UUA President Rev Susan Frederick-Gray states: “May our love of this blue green earth feed our souls to act on its behalf. Whether we choose to put our bodies in front of a pipeline or throw our considerable energies into legislation for just energy transitions, may we do so centering the margins.” It will take all of us and many strategies to create climate justice, including passage by the 116th Congress of the EICDA.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
This bipartisan bill is a hopeful sign that more and more, climate change is beginning to be seen as a crucial moral issue; one that concerns all people. If enacted, this proposal is expected to result in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. At a time when the dangerous effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent, the need for legislative solutions like this is more urgent than ever.
Fundamentally, this bill is about ensuring that the full spectrum of costs associated with greenhouse gas emissions—economic, social, and environmental—are accounted for. Failing to consider the health and well-being of people, including future generations and the planet, means that ‘businesses profit by calculating and paying only a fraction of the costs involved’ (Laudato Si’, no. 195). This proposed legislation is one possible remedy to addressing these imbalances.
CERES
The bill represents a long-awaited breakthrough for bipartisan action on climate change.Responding to climate change must transcend partisan politics. This legislation is evidence of the growing support on both sides of the aisle for carbon pricing as an effective and efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Business leaders across sectors have done the math and understand the economic imperative of climate action. An increasing number have raised a hand to say they are ‘still in’ on the Paris Agreement and have committed to reduce their own carbon footprint. Instituting a well-designed and meaningful price on carbon would provide the policy certainty needed to help leading companies meet their operational goals, among other things. And as a market-driven approach, a price on carbon such as the one included in this bill is the most efficient way to drive emissions reductions across the whole economy.
Conservation Hawks
Conservation Hawks, a group of hunters and anglers working to defend America’s sporting heritage, recognizes the serious and potentially catastrophic threat we face from human-caused climate change. Because of the certitude of the science, Conservation Hawks supports every reasonable effort, including carbon fee & dividend legislation, to limit greenhouse gas emissions and protect our American way of life. Conservation Hawks considers human-caused climate change to be the number one threat to our hunting & fishing, as well as to our children and to a prosperous American future.
Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship (CRS)
Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship (CRS) applauds the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018. This commonsense legislation will address climate change and promote economic growth at the same time. It is the kind of smart bi-partisan problem solving that is long overdue and that Congress needs to do more of.
Evangelical Environmental Network
We support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act and other carbon pricing proposals and will work with the Bill’s sponsors to ensure that pollution reductions are achieved while those of lower economic means are not adversely impacted. It’s time for bipartisan action to reduce carbon pollution. It’s time for America to assume once again its leadership in defending our children, and we are grateful for the courageous leadership of Representatives Deutch, Delaney, Rooney, Fitzpatrick and Crist.
National Wildlife Federation
Climate change is having real and dire impacts on communities across the nation. From unprecedented megafires in California to super-charged hurricanes in places like Florida, North Carolina and the Northern Mariana Islands, the signs are overwhelming that Congress needs to embrace bold and bipartisan solutions. A carbon fee is an economically-sound, market-based idea worthy of Congress’s bipartisan consideration and action. We look forward to working with Reps. Deutch, Rooney and Fitzpatrick in the next Congress on proactive conservation legislation to address climate change and carbon emissions going forward.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
We’re pleased to see members of both parties working together on a bill designed to curb dangerous climate change, and we are particularly thankful for renewed Republican leadership on this topic. Climate protection wasn’t always the partisan issue it has become. And it should not remain so going forward. Climate change threatens all Americans and is already causing real harm today in all parts of the country, red and blue. Given the threats we all face from climate change, we need political leadership from both sides of the aisle. We hope this bill marks the start of that process.
Nature Conservancy
It’s clear that we must address the substantial and growing threats posed by climate change. A bill like this, which makes a firm commitment to placing a price on pollution and reducing the emissions that threaten our communities, our health and our planet, is a necessary component of any effective plan to address climate change. We’re pleased to see a bipartisan group of members of the House Climate Solutions Caucus continue to press this issue on Capitol Hill. We need durable, bipartisan action on climate change.
Ocean Conservancy
This bill would put a price on climate change-causing carbon pollution, thereby reducing the incentive to burn fossil fuels, and refund the money that is earned to American taxpayers. Innovative ideas like this one are out there and they’re increasingly supported by both Republicans and Democrats, meaning that they could potentially pass into law and set us on the path to avoiding the worst of the impacts predicted in the NCA. We at Ocean Conservancy are so glad to see bipartisan innovation like this, and we are working to support more thoughtful proposals to find solutions for climate change and its impacts on the ocean.
RepublicEN
We need members of Congress, especially Republicans, to tear up the old talking points.We’re all experiencing climate change. And there’s a new EcoRight ready to support free enterprise solutions. The old lines about ‘I’m not a scientist,’ and ‘we don’t know how much of it is human-caused’ need to go in the trash can. And the new artful dodge about how we ‘need innovation, not regulation’ needs to be followed up with ‘Yeah, and how do you get that innovation?’ There’s an answer in Milton Friedman’s solution to pollution.
Resources for the Future
An economy-wide carbon price provides a strong market incentive for cost-effective emissions reductions. Our research also shows that dividends more than offset the cost of the carbon price for most households.
World Resources Institute
This is the kind of smart, bi-partisan proposal on climate change that we urgently need. WRI looks forward to working with members of Congress to accelerate the shift to a strong, low-carbon economy. We need leaders from local communities to the federal government to rise to this urgent challenge.
Young Evangelicals for Climate Action
Y.E.C.A. welcomes this crucial addition to the national climate solution conversation. We have always believed that the only way to achieve durable policy solutions is to have as many stakeholders at the table offering as many solutions as possible. This bill is one of the most significant contributions to date toward that end. It is bipartisan, creating the conditions for expansive debate and broad support.The release of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act marks the possibility of a new day in America.