A group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives has reintroduced the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, the groundbreaking bipartisan climate solution to price carbon, give revenue to households and bring greenhouse gas emissions down 90 percent by 2050. Sponsored by Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL), Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), the bill will create over 2 million new jobs, lower health care costs and promote energy innovation.

By Steve Valk

Citizens’ Climate Lobby

“Polling shows that more and more Americans are making the connection between climate change and disasters that claim lives and property,” said Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. “As public pressure increases for Congress to take action, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act provides a solution that is both effective and family friendly.”

This policy puts a fee on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. It starts low, at $15 per ton, and grows $10 per ton each year. The money collected from the carbon fee is allocated in equal shares every month to the American people to spend as they see fit. Click here to learn how this climate change legislation works and access the official legislative text of the bill.

The Energy Innovation Act is gaining support among Republicans because of its emphasis on a market-based, revenue-neutral approach. Expert economists who served Presidents Ford, Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43, including Alan Greenspan, Gregory Mankiw, and Ben Bernanke, recently signed a letter in the Wall Street Journal calling for a national carbon fee and dividend policy.

“Climate change is an urgent threat that demands urgent bipartisan action. With this legislation, we are making clear to our colleagues that bipartisanship is possible – even necessary – to address climate change in this Congress,” said Congressman Deutch. “Our plan, to put a price on carbon and return the net revenue back to the American people, offers our Democratic and Republican colleagues an effective approach to significantly reduce carbon emissions without shifting the burden to the American people.”

At the time the Energy Innovation Act was introduced late last year, media outlets across the country wrote news articles and editorials in support of the legislation:

The Hill: “The bill will likely be a major marker of where lawmakers from both parties can agree on tackling climate change.”

The San Diego Union Tribune: “[This bill] merits careful consideration as a huge and decisive step toward a healthier planet. It’s time for all elected leaders to rise to the occasion and act.”

The Florida Sun Sentinel: “We can do something to slow the acceleration of carbon emissions and keep the impact of climate change from growing worse. Deutch’s bipartisan bill is a good place to start.”

The bill has also garnered endorsements from former Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean, actor Don Cheadle, Olympic Gold Medal skier Jessie Diggins, as well as mayors and local legislators in cities across the country.