Representative Emanuel Cleaver II of the Mo.-5 Congressional District has become the 60th cosponsor of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, HR763. The CCL-KC volunteer team of Emily Hurley, Jim McGraw, Ruth Robertson, and Dave Mitchell met with Rep. Cleaver earlier this year, and he indicated a strong willingness to endorse HR763. Rep. Cleaver has a long history of awareness on the seriousness of our climate crisis, and has been very supportive of the K.C. environmental community. CCL-KC is deeply appreciative of Rep. Cleaver becoming an official cosponsor of HR763, and has expressed this appreciation to him and his staff in the Kansas City and D.C. offices.
Representative Cleaver is one of 59 Democrats to co-sponsor HR763. Florida Republican Francis Rooney is one of the original cosponsors of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, and his presence as a cosponsor creates a bipartisan bill. A May, 2019, Luntz Global survey indicates that 75% of Republicans under 40 support a fee on carbon with a regular dividend return to households. Additionally, 75% of Republicans support the statement overall that climate solutions should be a bipartisan effort. Many Republican politicians have to be aware that many in their party want action on climate, and that there is support for a carbon pricing system. This bodes well for the gathering of official political support as our national conversation on our climate crisis gains ever greater prominence.
As a national organization, Citizens Climate Lobby maintains staff in Washington D.C., and they consulted with Congressional staff in the crafting of HR763. CCL strongly supports HR763, since it embodies many of the pillars of a carbon fee and dividend system CCL has been advocating for the last 10 years. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act is:
Effective
If enacted immediately, would reduce U.S. carbon emissions 40% by 2030, and 90% by 2050. An annually increasing fee on coal, oil, or natural gas, beginning at $15 per ton of CO2 emissions would be levied on fossil fuel corporations for the products they produce. This fee would be increased $10 per ton, with the option of increasing to $15 per ton, annually, with a 100% dividend return to all U.S. legal residents. A $15 per ton charge would be about $0.15 cents on a gallon of gas.
As the price of fossil fuels gradually increases, there will reverberations throughout the entire economy. Consumers will make a myriad of lifestyle changes over time, utilities will embrace the 21st century technologies of renewable energy, auto makers will offer ever more efficient automobiles, and investors and entrepreneurs will increasingly invest in the renewable energy sectors, as well as in a wide array of efficiency technologies.
Revenue-Neutral
With a 100% dividend return to all U.S. legal residents on a monthly basis, HR763 is revenue neutral, and will not increase the size of government. A high percentage of the lower and middle income groups will be protected from the increased costs of living, with a family of four receiving about $3500 per year in the 10th year of the program.
The IRS will administer the dividend payments, and costs will be kept low through electronic deposits into a very high percentage of recipients checking accounts.
Good for the Economy
Once enacted, HR763 will create 2.1 million jobs in the economy after 10 years, and in 20 years the GDP will increase by $1.3 trillion.
Good for People
Americans health will improve, due to cleaner air and water, and 295,000 premature deaths will be averted. ( To learn more about HR763, go to citizensclimatelobby.org)
CCL-KC encourages calls or e-mails to Representative Cleaver’s offices to express appreciation and gratitude for his becoming the 60th cosponsor of HR763.
The Kansas City office:
Manuel Abarca IV Deputy District Director
816-842-4545
The D.C. Office:
Christina Mahoney Legislative Director
202-225-4535
To learn more about CCL-KC, check out our website at: kcccl.org
On Facebook we are at: facebook.com/citizensclimatelobbykc
Submitted by Dave Mitchell
CCL-KC Co-Leader
