Washington (CNN) With Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, the odds of passing a climate change bill this year are virtually non-existent. But Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, plans to reintroduce legislation to cap carbon emissions this week, anyway, due in part to the impact it could have on the 2016 election.

"Our goal is to keep attention focused on this issue as we head into this congressional session, and also into the presidential election in 2016," Van Hollen told CNN, explaining the bill serves as a vehicle for discussion.

Van Hollen's objective is to force Republicans to address the issue, and he believes they're slowly coming to the negotiating table. Think Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, and her crusade against income inequality to push Hillary Clinton toward embracing a populist mission as she forms an economic platform for her likely presidential bid.

"Republicans understand that the costs of inaction are huge," Van Hollen said, adding that at least privately, some GOP lawmakers are beginning to acknowledge to him their interest in taking up the issue.

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