On September 16, House leadership unveiled an almost 900 page energy package billed as a response to climate change. The Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, is said to fund research and development required to work toward a clean energy economy, invest in updating American energy innovation infrastructure, and work to reduce harmful carbon emissions to net-zero pollution.
The bill has not gone through the regular legislative process, however it is reported that the bill comes as the Senate recently resolved a roadblock that halted a spring vote on a similar energy bill proposed by Senator Murkowski and Joe Manchin. The House is set to vote on the bill in the coming days and is likely to pass the Democratic-led House, which would give them a vehicle to conference with the Senate should they ultimately pass the Murkowski-Manchin legislation.
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) said “I look forward to bringing the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act to the Floor next week, which fulfills House Democrats’ promise to invest in the creation of high-paying jobs by making America a global leader in clean energy. Our climate is changing, and we not only need to take dramatic steps to slow the carbon pollution that has driven this climate crisis but we must also seize the economic opportunities that this challenge presents.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after House Democrats’ Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act was posted:
“Today, with the introduction of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, the Democratic House has taken a momentous and bipartisan step to achieving a clean energy future that lifts up all communities in our country. I salute Congressman Tom O’Halleran, the Committees and the bipartisan bill sponsors for their work on this jobs-creating package which advances public health, financial and national security and environmental justice. This legislation proudly builds on Democrats’ relentless climate action this Congress – including passing the Climate Action Now Act, the Moving Forward Act, the Great American Outdoors Act, and releasing our Congressional Action Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis.
“As the wildfires ravaging the west and the historic storms devastating the Gulf Coast heartbreakingly show, there is no time to deny the reality of the climate crisis. Urgent, science-based action is needed now – which is why we are proud that our legislation launches the research and development needed to unleash a clean energy revolution, makes a down-payment in modernizing America’s energy innovation infrastructure, and puts our country on the path to achieving net-zero pollution by 2050 at the latest. This bill also protects local communities by requiring federal agencies to better understand the impact of new projects on public health and the environment, and to provide meaningful participation for indigenous and environmental justice communities.
“The American people – including young people, scientists, faith leaders, grassroots environmental justice advocates – are demanding Climate Action Now and cannot afford further obstruction from anti-governance, anti-science Republicans.”
The White House says it opposes the clean energy package and would recommend the President veto the measure if it were to reach his desk.