Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act in the News

Rep. Delaney: Climate change a ‘significant threat to prosperity and national security’
“Enduring things happen in this country when there is broad bipartisan support. Climate change deserves that level of support. Most Americans understand that this is a very significant issue. They want us to work together to solve it in a big way and that’s what this bill does.”

Bipartisan group of lawmakers propose landmark carbon tax
“The bill will likely be a major marker of where lawmakers from both parties can agree on tackling climate change.”

Lawmakers roll out landmark bipartisan carbon bill
“There is no question the bill would be a serious attempt to combat climate change.”

Carbon bill makes first footprint
“Backers argue the effort will deliver major benefits: 2.1 million net new jobs by the 10th year; 13,000 avoided pollution-related U.S. deaths annually and a 90 percent reduction in carbon emissions from 2015 levels by 2050.”

House lawmakers introduce first bipartisan carbon tax bill in a decade
“The new bill represents an increasing willingness from at least some Republicans to address global warming.”

Bipartisan legislation would put a price on carbon
“A bill introduced in Congress yesterday could help cut U.S. carbon pollution by 40% in 10 years.”

Coalition introduces 1st bipartisan climate bill in decade
“It’s not a partisan issue. This is an issue of just doing what’s right for the environment.”

Democrats and Republicans want to tax pollution – and give the money back to you
“A group of lawmakers on both sides see a politically palatable way to tax pollution: give the money collected from polluters back to every American in the form of a dividend.”

Three Florida congressmen among sponsors of new bill that would put a fee on carbon emissions
“[This bill] is the product of rigorous negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, liberal groups and conservative groups, environmentalists and business interests.”

Tackling Climate Change: The fate of a carbon tax in the U.S.
“The bill says it aims to reduce carbon pollution by 40% within 10 years, which would outstrip even the goals the Obama Administration had.”

Editorial: It’s time to consider a federal carbon tax — and to confront NIMBYism
“[This bill] merits careful consideration as a huge and decisive step toward a healthier planet. It’s time for all elected leaders to rise to the occasion and act. If leaders don’t lead, our children and our grandchildren will be far worse off.”

Editorial: All must take urgent action on climate change
“If [Senator Cory] Gardner wants to remain at least a viable candidate, he — along with every member of the state’s congressional delegation — should get behind the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. The bill, meant to reduce carbon pollution 40 percent in 10 years and 91 percent by 2050, was introduced this week by a bipartisan group of House members.”

Our view: Time for Katko to act on climate change
“The act would establish a fee on carbon dioxide emissions that would be aimed at encouraging companies to reduce CO2 output over time. But the fee would not be gobbled up by the government; instead, it would be used to fund a monthly rebate paid out to American citizens, which would help most of them more than cover any increases in prices for petroleum products. A provision is in place for a carbon fee to be put on products imported from countries without their own reduction program in place, which will help protect American companies in the global marketplace.”

OURS: Climate assessment offers opportunity to gain an edge
“The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act recently introduced in the U.S. House and backed by the Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a reasonable and measured step toward that protection. The plan seeks to make cleaner fuels more economically competitive by imposing fees on fossil fuels. Consumers would receive the dividends from fees to protect them from rising energy prices.”

In Our View: Congress, lead on climate
“[Recent events] highlight the need for bipartisan leadership in dealing with climate change. Congress should fully consider the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.”

Editorial: Report adds to urgency on issue of climate change
“We need action. On the federal level, lawmakers should expedite action on the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act introduced in the House.”

Editorial: Amid the dark news on climate change, a spark of hope
“We can do something to slow the acceleration of carbon emissions, and keep the impact of climate change from growing increasingly worse. Deutch’s bipartisan bill is a good place to start.”

Editorial: The reality of climate change is seen with turbocharged weather events
“If we don’t act now, we’re nearing a point of no return when it comes to the environment, our health and our economy. We cannot be the generation to become a runaway train. We’ve got to put on the brakes, which the legislation will start to do.”

Carbon plan deserves support
“A bipartisan bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives has the potential to help the U.S. make significant strides on carbon emissions while also helping the economy.”

Our view: We endorse the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act
“Americans mobilized the whole economy to win World War II and reaped a vibrant economy after the war. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act will stimulate the market to meet the challenge of another historic emergency by creating a strong, healthy, clean energy economy.”
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.
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.
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.
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.