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

Floor Speech

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Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H. Con. Res. 119. This resolution is nothing more than an election year stunt by Republicans to distract from the growing list of issues they failed to address this Congress.

Let me be clear: This vote is a sham. If Republicans truly wanted to debate the merits of a carbon tax, they would allow the Ways and Means Committee to hold hearings with expert testimony and robust discussion. In fact, multiple members of our committee have already introduced bills that tackle the ever-pressing issue of climate change, which is impacting the health and well-being of American families and future generations more and more each day.

This is not just a Democratic concern either. There is even a Republican carbon tax bill expected to be introduced in the coming days.

Instead, here we are, wasting what little time we have left this Congress, debating a pointless resolution while there are urgent problems waiting to be resolved. Congress should be passing legislation to address the double-digit increases in healthcare premiums caused by the repeal of the individual mandate by the GOP tax scam or reuniting immigrant children with their parents.

The fact is, Mr. Speaker, this vote is a wasted opportunity and just another example of Republicans placing political expedience over regular order.

As a member of both the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition and the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, I would love to participate in a real debate about how we can address climate change. My constituents are clamoring for us to act. But if Republicans are going to continue to ignore and deny the existence of this crisis, the least they can do here, in Congress, is to use this time to legislate, not electioneer.

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