Expressing the Sense of Congress That A Carbon Tax Would Be Detrimental to the United States Economy

Floor Speech

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Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H. Con. Res. 86, a disingenuous resolution that wastes our time while it misleadingly attacks a carbon tax.

Continuing with yesterday's shameless giveaways to Big Oil and Gas, Republicans' next energy week bill asserts that a carbon tax would raise food prices and the cost of every good in America, while ignoring the cost of climate change to communities hit hardest by flooding, wildfires, and other climate catastrophes, all while oil and gas executives maximize their profits. This is unacceptable.

The reality is that when Democrats controlled the House, Senate, and White House, we did not pursue a carbon tax. Instead, we passed historic tax credits that are incentivizing and fueling the clean energy transition.

The Inflation Reduction Act was the largest climate investment in history and through it, we are powering economic growth, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and advancing environmental justice.

While asserting a carbon tax would raise food prices, Republican leadership refuses to disavow their own Members' proposals, like the FairTax Act, which would actually be a 30 percent sales tax on everything, including groceries, medical bills, tuition, insurance, and, yes, fossil fuel products like gas that you buy at the pump, hurting the very same people they are purporting to help.

Ultimately, this resolution represents yet another attempt by House Republicans to favor corporate interests, including Big Oil, over job- creating clean energy policies and climate solutions that benefit American families and our planet. They are trying to distract from the reality that the U.S. is hitting record levels of domestic energy production under President Biden.

We welcome Republican support in facilitating the transition to clean energy. Instead, they remain focused on doing everything they can do to undo this progress. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

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