Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019

The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019 (H.R. 763) is a bill in the United States House of Representatives that proposes a fee on carbon at the point of extraction to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The fees are recycled to citizens in monthly dividends. The act was originally introduced in 2018 with bipartisan support from six co-sponsors and died when the 115th congress ended on 3 January 2019.[1] It is principally based on Citizens' Climate Lobby's carbon fee and dividend proposal, and this organization advocates for the bill.[2]

Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleTo create a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund for the American people in order to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy technologies and market efficiencies which will reduce harmful pollution and leave a healthier, more stable, and more prosperous nation for future generations.
Enacted bythe 116th United States Congress
Citations
Public lawH.R.763 - Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019
Codification
Acts amendedInternal Revenue Code
Clean Air Act
Legislative history

On 24 January 2019, the bill was introduced into the house by Representative Ted Deutch on behalf of himself and six other original cosponsors.[3]

The bill obtained 86 cosponsors but was not voted on. On April 1, 2021, the bill was reintroduced in the 117th Congress as H.R. 2307, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021.[4][5] On September 27, 2023, the bill was reintroduced in the 118th Congress as H. R. 5744, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023.[6]

2018 bill

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The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018 was a proposed 2018 bill that intended to "create a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund for the American people in order to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy technologies and market efficiencies which will reduce harmful pollution and leave a healthier, more stable, and more prosperous nation for future generations." The bill was originally introduced by Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL) on November 27, 2018, with bipartisan support from 4 co-sponsors.[7] A companion bill was introduced into the United States Senate by Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) on December 19, 2018.[8] The bill died when the 115th Congress ended on January 3, 2019. The bill was reintroduced in the 116th Congress as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019.

Description of the bill

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The 2018 bill was intended to:

If passed, the 2019 bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to:[9]

It would also make adjustments to the Clean Air Act to limit the Environmental Protection Agency from placing restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions under some conditions.

Cosponsors

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As of December 17, 2020, the bill has 86 sponsors in the House of Representatives from two parties and 23 states.[10]

Sponsor Party District Original? Sponsor since Relevant committees[a]
Ted Deutch Democratic FL-21 Yes January 24, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Judy Chu Democratic CA-27 Yes January 24, 2019 Ways and Means Committee
Charlie Crist Democratic FL-13 Yes January 24, 2019
Anna Eshoo Democratic CA-18 Yes January 24, 2019 Energy and Commerce Committee
Dan Lipinski Democratic IL-03 Yes January 24, 2019
Francis Rooney Republican FL-19 Yes January 24, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Scott Peters Democratic CA-52 Yes January 24, 2019 Energy and Commerce Committee, Energy Subcommittee
Dean Phillips Democratic MN-03 No January 28, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Hank Johnson Democratic GA-04 No January 29, 2019
Salud Carbajal Democratic CA-24 No January 30, 2019
Alcee Hastings Democratic FL-20 No February 7, 2019
Susan Wild Democratic PA-15 No February 8, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Yvette Clarke Democratic NY-09 No February 11, 2019 Energy and Commerce Committee (vice chair)
Jackie Speier Democratic CA-14 No February 12, 2019
Jan Schakowsky Democratic IL-09 No February 22, 2019 Energy and Commerce Committee
Gerry Connolly Democratic VA-11 No March 4, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Chellie Pingree Democratic ME-01 No March 6, 2019
Mark DeSaulnier Democratic CA-11 No March 7, 2019
Adam Schiff Democratic CA-28 No March 8, 2019
Angie Craig Democratic MN-02 No March 18, 2019
Tom Malinowski Democratic NJ-07 No March 21, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Albio Sires Democratic NJ-08 No March 21, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Harley Rouda Democratic CA-48 No March 25, 2019
Jim McGovern Democratic MA-02 No March 25, 2019
Barbara Lee Democratic CA-13 No March 26, 2019
Gil Cisneros Democratic CA-39 No March 26, 2019
Mike Levin Democratic CA-49 No March 27, 2019
Pete Aguilar Democratic CA-31 No April 8, 2019
Denny Heck Democratic WA-10 No April 10, 2019
Katie Porter Democratic CA-45 No April 12, 2019
Robin Kelly Democratic IL-02 No April 18, 2019 Energy and Commerce Committee, Energy Subcommittee
Al Lawson Democratic FL-05 No April 18, 2019
Jim Himes Democratic CT-04 No April 25, 2019
Andy Levin Democratic MI-09 No April 25, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Ted Lieu Democratic CA-33 No April 29, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Seth Moulton Democratic MA-06 No May 7, 2019
Jamie Raskin Democratic MD-08 No May 9, 2019
Veronica Escobar Democratic TX-16 No May 20, 2019
Kathleen Rice Democratic NY-04 No May 23, 2019
David Price Democratic NC-04 No May 28, 2019
Susan Davis Democratic CA-53 No May 28, 2019
Alma Adams Democratic NC-12 No June 10, 2019
Dwight Evans Democratic PA-03 No June 10, 2019
Madeleine Dean Democratic PA-04 No June 10, 2019
Bennie Thompson Democratic MS-02 No June 11, 2019
Dan Kildee Democratic MI-05 No June 12, 2019 Ways and Means Committee
Steve Cohen Democratic TN-09 No June 13, 2019
Joe Neguse Democratic CO-02 No June 18, 2019
Danny Davis Democratic IL-07 No June 18, 2019 Ways and Means Committee
Brenda Lawrence Democratic MI-14 No June 20, 2019
David Trone Democratic MD-06 No June 20, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Matt Cartwright Democratic PA-08 No June 25, 2019
Karen Bass Democratic CA-37 No July 5, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Bonnie Watson Coleman Democratic NJ-12 No July 9, 2019
Dutch Ruppersberger Democratic MD-02 No July 9, 2019
Joseph Morelle Democratic NY-25 No July 11, 2019
Derek Kilmer Democratic WA-06 No July 15, 2019
Lucy McBath Democratic GA-06 No July 17, 2019
Ed Perlmutter Democratic CO-07 No July 19, 2019
Emanuel Cleaver Democratic MO-05 No August 30, 2019
Brad Sherman Democratic CA-30 No September 6, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Jesús "Chuy" García Democratic IL-04 No September 16, 2019
Thomas Suozzi Democratic NY-03 No September 24, 2019 Ways and Means Committee
Lou Correa Democratic CA-46 No September 26, 2019
Lucille Roybal-Allard Democratic CA-40 No September 26, 2019
Grace Meng Democratic NY-06 No October 16, 2019
Linda Sánchez Democratic CA-38 No October 21, 2019 Ways and Means Committee
John Yarmuth Democratic KY-03 No October 29, 2019
Gregory Meeks Democratic NY-05 No November 8, 2019 Foreign Affairs Committee
Sanford Bishop Democratic GA-02 No November 12, 2019
Sean Patrick Maloney Democratic NY-18 No November 12, 2019
Donald M. Payne Democratic NJ-10 No November 13, 2019
Lacy Clay Democratic MO-1 No November 13, 2019
Ami Bera Democratic CA-7 No December 5, 2019
Ann McLane Kuster Democratic NH-02 No January 27, 2020
Grace Napolitano Democratic CA-32 No January 27, 2020
Mary Gay Scanlon Democratic PA-05 No February 10, 2020
Jason Crow Democratic CO-06 No February 13, 2020
Frederica Wilson Democratic FL-24 No February 21, 2020 Foreign Affairs Committee
Tony Cardenas Democratic CA-29 No June 22, 2020 Energy and Commerce Committee
Norma Torres Democratic CA-35 No August 7, 2020
Mike Quigley Democratic IL-05 No December 9, 2020
Andre Carson Democratic IN-07 No December 9, 2020
John Garamendi Democratic CA-03 No December 14, 2020
Joyce Beatty Democratic OH-03 No December 17, 2020

Reactions

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The Center on Global Energy Policy published a comparison of the 2018 version of the bill to other carbon tax proposals.[11]

Support

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In the weeks following the reintroduction of the bill, several publications including The Washington Post,[12] the Missoulian,[13] and the Daily Camera[14] published op-eds and editorials in support of the bill.

The bill is also supported by climate scientist and activist James Hansen and former secretary of state George Shultz. The governments (or parts of the governments) of several localities, including the following with more than 50,000 residents, have signed resolutions urging the United States Congress to pass the act:[15]

It has also been publicly supported by several small businesses and nonprofit organizations including Protect Our Winters.

The Environmental Defense Fund called it "an inspiring step in the right direction."[17]

Opposition

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The Center for Biological Diversity published a press release opposing the bill on the basis that its adjustments to the Clean Air Act would "only give us climate disaster."[18]

In April 2019, novelist and leading member of Orange County for Climate Action Roger Gloss posted his opposition to HR 763, noting the lack of annual emissions targets, and the first assessment of whether targets are being met in 2030, the year in which the IPCC says emissions must have already been halved.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Conradis, Brandon (2018-11-27). "Bipartisan group of lawmakers propose landmark carbon tax". TheHill. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  2. ^ "The Bipartisan Climate Solution". Citizens' Climate Lobby. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  3. ^ "Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019 (H.R. 763)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  4. ^ "Major Carbon Fee & Dividend Bill Reintroduced in House". Congressman Ted Deutch. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  5. ^ "H.R. 2307: Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021". Govtrack. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  6. ^ "Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023 (H.R. 5744)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  7. ^ Conradis, Brandon (2018-11-27). "Bipartisan group of lawmakers propose landmark carbon tax". TheHill. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  8. ^ Coons, Christopher A. (2018-12-19). "S.3791 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  9. ^ a b Deutch, Theodore E. (2019-01-24). "Text - H.R.763 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019". congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  10. ^ Deutch, Theodore E. (2019-02-12). "Cosponsors - H.R.763 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  11. ^ "Columbia | SIPA Center on Global Energy Policy | How the Bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act Compares to Other Carbon Tax Proposals". energypolicy.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  12. ^ Juhnke, Richard (January 18, 2019). "One answer to the environmental alarms going off". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  13. ^ ATKINS, DAVE and SHIRLEY. "Urge passage of Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  14. ^ "John Russell: Support the Energy Innovation Act". dailycamera.com. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  15. ^ "Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act Supporters". Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  16. ^ "Memorandum, H.R.763 (Deutch): Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019". sanjoseca.gov. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  17. ^ "New Bipartisan Congressional Bill Would Help Reduce Climate Pollution, Protect Americans". Environmental Defense Fund. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  18. ^ "Carbon Dividend Bill in House Would Gut Clean Air Act Authority to Stop Climate Change". www.biologicaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  19. ^ "H.R. 763 - A Tax That's Not a Tax, A Solution That's Not a Solution". Roger's Library. 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
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