Providing for Consideration of H. Con. Res. Expressing the Sense of Congress That A Carbon Tax Would Be Detrimental to the United States Economy

Floor Speech

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Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the rule that would permit a House vote on the most shortsighted, antimarket sense of the House on a carbon tax.

For decades, economists across the ideological spectrum have argued that carbon price is the most efficient way to discourage the use of fossil fuels and the best way to encourage the growth of energy efficiency measures, alternative energy sources, and market decisions on everything from housing to transportation.

Indeed, this is the preferred solution to climate change by those on the right, by the Republican public intellectuals and think tanks, which is why it is baffling that a Republican congressional leadership would want to attack their preferred policy option.

It is axiomatic economics that we tax the things we want to discourage. The scientific evidence continues to accumulate in prodigious amounts that carbon pollution is profoundly changing the climate of our Earth. The costs of inaction are staggering, into the billions.

Carbon pricing is the most market-oriented policy action we can take to combat this. Designed well, the economic dividend will put much more money into the hands of the American people and will grow our economy more quickly.

History will look back on this House resolution with sadness and regret. Once again, we will have chosen short-term profits of the fossil fuel titans over the long-term survival and prosperity of mankind on our planet.

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