[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 407 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 407
To require a notification relating to the nationally determined
contribution of the United States prior to any submission with respect
to such contribution under article 4 of the Paris Agreement, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 21, 2021
Mr. McCaul (for himself, Mr. Burchett, Mrs. Wagner, Mr. Chabot, and Mr.
Wilson of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require a notification relating to the nationally determined
contribution of the United States prior to any submission with respect
to such contribution under article 4 of the Paris Agreement, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Responsible Climate Action and
American Competitiveness Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States is a world leader in addressing
climate change risks through private sector-led innovation and
technological advancement.
(2) The United States Energy Information Administration
estimates that United States energy-related carbon dioxide
emissions, since peaking in 2007, have declined by an average
of 1.3 percent per year, starting well before the United States
became a party to the Paris Agreement. This decline brought
greenhouse gas emissions to their lowest levels since 1992.
(3) Nuclear energy accounts for nine of the ten highest-
generating power plants in the United States, and produces one-
third the carbon dioxide emissions of current solar
technologies.
(4) According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in
terms of carbon dioxide emissions, the United States has
conducted ``the largest absolute decline among all countries
since 2000''.
(5) President Obama unilaterally joined the Paris Agreement
without involving Congress, without consulting outside
stakeholders such as energy companies, and without conducting a
cost-benefit analysis, including an analysis of how a United
States nationally determined contribution (NDC) would impact
competitiveness with countries like the People's Republic of
China (PRC) that threaten United States national and economic
security.
(6) A report prepared by NERA Economic Consulting in 2017
found that meeting the commitments President Obama made as part
of the Paris Agreement could reduce the United States gross
domestic product by $250,000,000,000 and eliminate 2,700,000
jobs by 2025.
(7) Despite being the world's second largest economy, the
PRC was permitted to be classified as a ``developing country''
for purposes of the Paris Agreement and abused this
classification when making its NDC under the Paris Agreement.
(8) The PRC is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse
gases, and according to the NDC submitted by the Chinese
Communist Party, it will continue raising emissions until 2030.
(9) On September 22, 2020, CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping
announced his intention for China to become carbon neutral by
2060, a full decade later than the 2050 target date committed
to by other major economies.
(10) According to the IEA, coal-fired power plants were the
single largest emitter of carbon dioxide in 2018. China has
dedicated over $50,000,000,000 through the Belt and Road
Initiative to developing coal projects across 150 countries in
the past seven years, signaling a lack of genuine intent to
combat climate change.
(11) During Paris negotiations, then-Secretary of State
John Kerry acknowledged that even if all the developed world,
which in this context does not include China, cut carbon
dioxide emissions to zero, it would not offset the emissions
coming from the rest of the globe.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO THE PARIS AGREEMENT.
(a) In General.--The President shall notify Congress not fewer than
30 days prior to submitting, pursuant to article 4 of the Paris
Agreement, any nationally determined contribution (NDC) on behalf of
the United States.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The notification required by
subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) A detailed economic justification of the NDC.
(2) A cost-benefit analysis of the NDC.
(3) An analysis of the NDC's anticipated effect on global
carbon dioxide emissions.
(4) A description of how the United States will utilize
numerous energy sources, including but not limited to nuclear,
fossil fuel, and renewable technologies, to achieve the NDC.
(5) A description of how the NDC will promote availability
of diversified energy supplies and a well-functioning global
market for energy resources, technologies, and expertise for
the benefit of the United States and United States allies and
trading partners.
(6) An analysis of the NDCs submitted with respect to the
Paris Agreement by the Government of the People's Republic of
China and the Government of the Russian Federation, the
anticipated effects on their respective domestic carbon dioxide
emissions, and the anticipated effects on their respective
global competitiveness.
(7) A description of how the NDC will support United States
efforts to counter malign Chinese and Russian influence and
domination over energy supply chains.
(8) A description of how the NDC will support United States
international efforts to alleviate energy poverty.
(9) A description of how the NDC will impact United States
global economic competitiveness.
(10) A description of how the NDC will impact United States
national security interests.
(c) Congressional Review.--Any NDC submitted pursuant to article 4
of the Paris Agreement shall be treated as a rule for the purposes of
chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the
``Congressional Review Act'').
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