Rep. Brat Statement on U.S. Leaving Paris Climate Agreement

Statement

Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) issued the following statement following the announcement by the White House that the United States is ceasing implementation of the non-binding Paris Accord.

"The Paris Accord was never a binding agreement yet it forced America to penalize our own economy and workers while the rest of the world did little to comply with its standards. I believe this historic act is a step closer to restoring America's economic independence.

The best way to care for our environment is through economic growth and free markets. America balances stewardship over the environment while still growing our economy better than any other country in the world.

The Obama-negotiated Accord creates unrealistic compliance requirements on the United States while giving other countries like China and India a free pass. In fact, China is allowed to increase emissions for the next 13 years. In contrast, the United States had led with action. Before the Paris Accord was ever in place, the innovation and technology from private American companies enabled America to dramatically reduced our carbon footprint by 18 percent between 2000 and 2014.

Additionally, if preserving our environment was the motivation for policies like the Paris Accord, the Obama Administration never should have blocked exporting clean energy alternatives like liquid natural gas.

Common sense was clearly ignored when entering into this poorly-negotiated agreement and I am pleased to see American sovereignty restored by this action by President Trump."

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