May 1, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 71 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H3346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be cosponsoring H.R. 9, 
which we will be voting on this week.
  H.R. 9 reaffirms the United States' commitment to reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions. It is long past time that we do more to fight climate 
change.
  Fighting climate change has been a priority of mine since I got to 
Congress more than a decade ago. In 2007, in an era of divided 
government, we were able to make some progress. I was able to get two 
bills passed into law that address climate change. One required the 
Federal Government to cut energy usage by installing energy-efficient 
light bulbs in Federal buildings. The other created a new prize 
competition to encourage development of clean transportation fuel. It 
seemed that we were starting to take climate change seriously.
  In 2009 and 2010, more steps were taken. In order to make a major 
breakthrough, in 2009, I helped introduce the first bipartisan bill to 
impose a revenue-neutral carbon fee. However, in 2010, Congress failed 
to pass major climate legislation, and since then, we have failed to 
make more progress.
  Today, I have renewed hope. H.R. 9 is a good first step, but much 
more needs to be done. I am an original cosponsor of the bipartisan 
Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which would institute a 
carbon fee with the revenue returned to Americans with a dividend 
check. This bill would bring greenhouse gas emissions down 90 percent 
by 2050.
  I have sponsored several other climate change bills, including the 
Challenges & Prizes for Climate Act, which would incentivize and reward 
development of innovative solutions with direct benefits to the 
climate. These are all ways to harness American ingenuity to solve our 
climate crisis.

                              {time}  1030

  In doing so, by coming up with an American solution, we could build 
our economy and create more jobs. We know, as Americans, that we can 
get this done, and we must do it. Now is the time for us to act.

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