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06/29/09

House Passes Climate Change Bill

Attention Now Turns to Senate Action
Category: The Washington Update
Posted by: shannon

On Friday, June 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which establishes a cap-and-trade system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The bill passed 219-212 vote, with eight Republican “yes” votes tipping the balance. Forty-four Democrats voted against the bill. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates it would cost households on average $175 a year.

Click here for the CBO cost estimate report.

Click here for the Congressional Research Service HR 2454 summary.

Click here for all information on HR 2454, including bill text and amendments offered.

Senate leaders are already working on pushing a similar bill through the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) are already working with moderate Democrats to craft a compromise. Boxer plans to start marking up a bill (in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee) soon after Congress returns from the Fourth of July recess, and Reid intends to bring it to the floor this fall.

NARC has some concerns with HR 2454 regarding the new greenhouse gas reduction transportation planning requirements placed on metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) within a transportation management area (TMA) – population 200,000 or greater. Click here to see if your MPO would be affected.

Please contact Shannon Menard at shannon@NARC.org or 202.986.1032, x217 for more information.


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