House Energy Committee Begins Debate On Climate Change Bill

May 18, 2009 10:21 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Monday begins consideration of a climate change bill that will limit carbon emissions by requiring companies to buy permits from the government. Democrats want the measure this year, with the committee mark up done by Memorial Day, but Republicans are pushing an alternative measure and plan to offer amendments.

The panel begins consideration of the The American Clean Energy and Security Act at 1:00 pm ET. The bill was sponsored by committee chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Energy and Environment Subcommittee chairman Edward Markey (D-MA).

"This bill marks the dawn of the clean energy age," Markey said in a statement. "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revive our economy and create millions of good-paying clean energy jobs. After months of hearings and discussions with my colleagues, I am pleased that we have produced a bill that has widespread support from all regions of the country."

But Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX), the top Republican of the committee, and Fred Upton (R-MI), the subcommittee's ranking member, have called for another hearing on language of the bill about the emissions allocations.

"Your self-imposed Memorial Day deadline for reporting this bill necessarily requires that we short-circuit the logical legislative process that our democracy thrives on, and replace it with a frantic rush to judgment," they said in a statement. "Americans expect all of us to read and understand all of the language of your bill, particularly including your plan to allocate emissions permits."

The GOP will be offering an alternative during the committee markup, as well as numerous amendments.

Republicans say the Obama administration measure would raise taxes for every American household by as much as $3,100 a year by imposing a cap-and-trade system that will require companies to buy carbon emissions permits from the federal government. Businesses such as steel manufacturers, they say, will also suffer since consumers will resort to buying cheaper imported steel.

Greenpeace has also said in a statement that the bill has been "weakened" by conservative Democrats and industry lobbyists.

"To avoid the worst impacts of global warming, science tells us that the United States and other developed nations must collectively achieve emissions cuts of at least 25-40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80-95 percent by 2050," the group said. "But [the bill] only sets a domestic target of approximately 4 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Even with additional measures elsewhere in the legislation, the U.S. effort would still fall far short of the emissions cuts that climate scientists say are necessary."

President Barack Obama in his weekly address over the weekend called the legislation a "historic agreement."

"For the first time, utility companies and corporate leaders are joining, not opposing, environmental advocates and labor leaders to create a new system of clean energy initiatives," he said. "It's a plan that will finally reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and cap the carbon pollution that threatens our health and our climate. Most important, it's a plan that will trigger the creation of millions of new jobs for Americans."