House Republicans Ignore IPCC Report, Pass Giveaway to Major Polluters
On March 20, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report underscoring how critical the current decade is to ensuring a livable planet.
Ten days later, the US House of Representatives showed how little they care.
That was the day they passed a new giveaway to Big Oil and other polluters at the expense of the American taxpayer. The bill (HR1) codifies Trump-era National Environmental Policy Act regulations that favor polluters, undermines the new chemical review process under the 2016 bipartisan Toxic Substances Control Act reform law, and reverses progress on climate action from the Inflation Reduction Act. It also repeals the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that funds clean energy projects, the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, and the $4.5 billion home electrification rebate program. Republicans billed it as a move to lower energy costs, but it will do nothing of the sort: it’s only goal is to further enrich the biggest polluters.
The House passed the bill 225 to 204, with a mostly party-line vote. Four Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Jared Golden (ME-02), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), and Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (WA-03). One Republican voted no: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).
The House took up a number of amendments, and I would like to highlight a few in particular.
Republican Gary Palmer (AL-06)’s amendment to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from implementing its proposed rule regarding gas stoves, or any other rule that would limit consumer access to gas stoves, passed 251 to 181. Disappointingly, it gained the support from 29 Democrats.
Here are the 29:
Republican Marc Molinaro (NY-19) ’s amendment to require a study on how banning natural gas appliances will affect the rates and charges for electricity was a GOP messaging amendment that, if enacted, would do nothing good other than waste money. But it passed 268 to 163, with 48 Democrats voting in favor.
Here are the 48:
Republican Ronny Jackson (TX-13) sought to undermine critical environmental regulations with an amendment to require the EPA, in consultation with the DOE, to submit a report to Congress identifying and assessing any regulations promulgated by the Administrator during the past fifteen that have negatively affected domestic energy independence and increased energy cost for Americans. As “domestic energy independence” for Republicans means oil, gas, and coal production, the amendment was a direct attack on climate laws. It passed 245 to 189, with 21 Democrats joining Republicans in voting for it.
Here are the 21:
Republican Kevin Hern (OK-01)’s amendment to express disapproval of President Biden’s proposed end to wasteful oil and gas subsidies in his FY2024 budget passed 228 to 206. Joining Republicans in voting for it were Democrats Colin Allred (TX-32), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Don Davis (NC-01), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Mary Peltola (AK-AL), and Marc Veasey (TX-33).
