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

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1085, I call up the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 86) expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.

Mr. Speaker, working families are struggling to make ends meet, to afford to put food on their table, clothes on their backs, and gasoline in their cars, all because of the inflation crisis that has been fueled by Washington Democrats' runaway spending and President Biden's failed economic policies.

The last thing America needs is a carbon tax. It would raise energy prices and harm American competitiveness. It would put American workers and job creators at a disadvantage to appease the President's wealthy environmentalist donors and their far-left agenda.

The Biden administration is already giving billion-dollar corporations and big banks massive tax breaks under the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. This is the same administration that is celebrating spending over a trillion dollars and counting on special interest green energy handouts, including electric vehicle tax credits for wealthy households, while funneling American tax dollars to countries like China.

For working families, a carbon tax would not only raise prices at the pump but also at the grocery store. It would raise the cost of doing business on Main Street at a time when America's small businesses are struggling under the highest interest rates in over two decades. Those who can least afford to pay more, like seniors on fixed incomes, would suffer the most.

Today, Congress can send a loud and clear message to the American people and the Biden administration that says: Not on our watch. Not on our watch will there be an anti-American family, anti-American worker, pro-China carbon tax, while trillions of those same hardworking Americans' tax dollars go to line the pockets of the wealthy and well connected.

Mrs. MILLER of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 86, which would express the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.

This resolution makes it clear to the American people that we oppose policies that would drive up energy prices for families, businesses, and undermine U.S. energy security, and make Americans more dependent upon China.

A carbon tax would be a gift to our adversaries. It would restrict U.S. energy producers' ability to provide reliable energy to the grid and reduce exports to our allies. It further supports China's goal of dominating and profiting from Biden's green technologies and radical climate agenda.

In addition, the cost of this tax would be borne by the most vulnerable: the poor, the elderly, and those who are living on a fixed income.

Americans are already suffering from the effects of Bidenflation and the President's attack on U.S. energy. If this carbon tax took effect, Americans would feel the pain when they buy their gas for their cars, turn on their lights, or adjust the thermostats in their home.

The burden of a carbon tax would increase the price of everyday necessities, consumer goods, and anything that requires energy resources in their production, manufacturing, transport, or distribution.

This resolution makes it clear that we oppose policies that would drive up energy prices, damage the United States' economy, reduce the American GDP, and hurt American jobs.

I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that our God-given natural resources remain the foundation of America's energy economy, while promoting innovation and an all-of-the-above energy policy.

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Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, America's working families have paid more than their fair share for the failed economic policies of Washington Democrats and the Biden administration. Prices are up over 18 percent since President Biden took office.

Why is that?

I say it is because the President is willing to sacrifice the well- being of working families to reward the wealthy and well connected.

In the very first month of President Biden's term, inflation was 1.4 percent, and then Washington Democrats, under one-party control of the White House, the House, and the Senate, added more than $10 trillion of new spending, which fueled the inflation fire that has now caused inflation to rise almost 20 percent since Joe Biden took the oath of office.

That is why every American is paying more to put food on their table, clothes on their backs, and gasoline in their car, because of the failed economic policies of the Washington Democrats and the Biden administration.

This, a carbon tax, would simply add insult to that injury for so many Americans. It would raise the cost of raising a family and the cost of doing business. It would dull America's competitive edge and penalize American job creators and innovators against China.

The American people, Mr. Speaker, cannot afford, nor should they be forced to pay for, a liberal agenda that imposes a carbon tax on American families and American small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to speak in opposition to the proposed legislation, H. Con. Res. 86--Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.

Days away from a shutdown of their own making, my Republicans colleagues are focused on their political agenda over the needs of the American people.

It is important for the American people to know and to be reminded that Democrats made significant strides in unlocking the clean energy economy with the Inflation Reduction Act, while House Republicans are only concerned with undoing that progress and blocking those achievements.

Year after year, research comes out supporting what we have known for years:

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the survival of our nation and the welfare of our people.

Scientists have warned us about the devasting reality that would follow if we failed to act as a nation.

It is clear that some of us have heeded these warnings with great concern while others have taken them lightly.

My colleagues on the other side insist that a carbon tax would harm American families, specifically the poor, the elderly, and those on fixed incomes.

But what do they have to say about the impacts of emissions on those groups?

We know that the effects of climate change are not equally distributed, instead affecting the elderly, low-income communities, and people of color the most.

Climate change is no longer a distant threat--we are seeing the direct impacts of our inaction right now across the United States.

In countless neighborhoods throughout Texas and across the country we are already seeing the devastating effects of climate change on our coasts, our forests, our farmland, and through extreme weather patterns and ever-more destructive natural disasters.

Just last summer, Texas had the second hottest summer on record, with Texans being asked to conserve power as the state grid struggled to keep up with the demand for air conditioning due to scorching temperatures.

Heat is deadly, often killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods.

Last summer, at least 97 Texans died from heat-related illness, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

These record-breaking temperatures put the lives and livelihoods of Texans at risk.

As a representative from Houston, where millions of jobs are created from the fossil fuel industry, I understand the concerns my colleagues on the other side have about the economy.

However, I assure them that the economy will not be spared if we fail to act.

According to a 2023 study, the summer heat cost the Texas economy about $24 billion dollars.

Texas is twice as vulnerable to heat-related economic slowdowns than the rest of the country.

Studies using data from the last two decades found that for every degree of higher temperature in summer, Texas sees a slowdown of 0.4 percent in economic growth.

Extreme heat hurts businesses as customers stay home rather than going out to shop or dine.

According to the Texas Tribune, industries whose workers are frequently outdoors--including the oil and gas industry and construction--I saw a notable slowdown in employment growth related to the heat, as construction projects became delayed.

When considering national disasters, the monetary burden grows even larger.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Texas has felt some of the most severe consequences of climate change than any U.S. state or territory, costing the state at least $401 billion in hazard-related damage.

The cost estimates account for more than a dozen factors, including physical damage to buildings and infrastructure, decreases in earnings from interruptions to businesses and loss of agricultural assets.

Climate change is expected to impede the rate of economic growth of our Nation over this century.

To do absolutely nothing to counter climate change would have damning consequences for my district, my state, and the Nation.

Tackling climate change is looking out for wellbeing of our most vulnerable communities and our economy.

To do this, we must reduce carbon emissions in our atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas contributing to this most recent climate change.

When large amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the air from man-made sources, our planet grows warmer, affecting the quality of every species on the planet, including us.

A carbon tax price provides the economic incentive for the quickest and most comprehensive emission reductions across the entire economy.

Democrats have continuously fought for climate solutions that would put our nation in the path of energy security, lower energy costs for Americans, and thousands of clean jobs.

It is time my Republicans colleagues put political games aside and join Democrats in supporting environmentally conscious solutions.

The time calls for fresh determination and urgency.

We must work side-by-side with the American people to create a future of sustainability for our children and grandchildren, and prosperity and opportunity for our families and communities, for generations to come.

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Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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