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WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials, today announced the introduction of his new bill, the Climate Pollution Standard and Community Investment Act. This major climate legislation will address greenhouse gas emissions and act as a roadmap for the nation to achieve a carbon-free economy.

The bill would build upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s landmark climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, to establish a complementary regulatory framework that would guarantee climate pollution is phased down to meet the nation’s net-zero goals. Tonko’s bill will phase down climate pollution quickly while limiting economic disruptions and hardships by setting an economy-wide, enforceable limit on greenhouse gas emissions.

“We have made massive strides in Congress to address climate change with transformational legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” Congressman Tonko said. “However, as meaningful as these clean energy measures are, still more needs to be done for us to meet our lofty climate targets. My Climate Pollution Standard and Community Investment Act serves as an essential complement to our clean energy agenda. This proposal addresses climate pollution by establishing a framework for emissions reductions, while supporting frontline communities and investing in clean energy technologies. I’ll continue pushing for Congress to get serious about our climate targets and do all we can to deliver meaningful climate action.”

The Climate Pollution Standard and Community Investment Act will:

• Create a long-term regulatory framework implementing enforceable and meaningful yet flexible emissions targets;
• Generate new revenues which will be reinvested in frontline communities;
• Support displaced workers and low-income households; and
• Fund additional activities that will accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies.

The approach proposed in this legislation has a proven record of success that includes the EPA’s implementation of the AIM Act to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and the Acid Rain Program to phase down sulfur dioxide (SO2). Both programs, enacted with strong bipartisan support by Congress, utilize an allowance program to achieve emissions reductions in a certain, orderly, and cost-effective manner.

Bill text can be found HERE.

A bill summary can be found HERE.