I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8613 

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States, in coordination 

with the National Academy of Sciences, to study alternatives for a 

nonpartisan congressional office or agency to project the net greenhouse 

gas emissions likely to be caused by Federal legislation, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 16, 2020 

Mr. NEGUSE (for himself, Mr. HUFFMAN, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. LEVIN of California, Mr. CROW, and Ms. DEGETTE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House 

Administration 

A BILL 

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States, 

in coordination with the National Academy of Sciences, 

to study alternatives for a nonpartisan congressional office or agency to project the net greenhouse gas emissions likely to be caused by Federal legislation, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Carbon Cost Act of 

5 2020’’. 


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•HR 8613 IH

1 SEC. 2. STUDY OF ALTERNATIVES FOR A CONGRESSIONAL 

2 OFFICE TO PROJECT THE NET GREENHOUSE 

3 GAS EMISSIONS LIKELY TO BE CAUSED BY 

4 FEDERAL LEGISLATION. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 

6 date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 

7 of the United States, in coordination with the National 

8 Academy of Sciences, shall— 

9 (1) study alternatives for a nonpartisan con10 gressional office or agency— 

11 (A) to make thorough, science-based pro12 jections on whether the enactment, full funding, 

13 and implementation of particular Federal legis14 lation are likely to cause a net increase or de15 crease in global greenhouse gas emissions over 

16 a specified period; and 

17 (B) to quantify any such projected increase 

18 or decrease; and 

19 (2) submit a report to the Congress containing 

20 the results of such study, including recommenda21 tions. 

22 (b) CONSIDERATIONS.—The study under subsection 

23 (a) shall address each of the following: 

24 (1) Whether a new office or agency should be 

25 established for purposes of carrying out the func26 tions described in subsection (a)(1), or whether such 


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•HR 8613 IH

1 functions should be vested in one or more existing 

2 offices or agencies. 

3 (2) How to ensure the office or agency remains 

4 nonpartisan and science-focused. 

5 (3) How to involve governmental and private 

6 experts, including— 

7 (A) whether Federal officers and employ8 ees should be detailed to the office or agency 

9 carrying out the functions described in sub10 section (a)(1); and 

11 (B) how to involve appropriate experts in 

12 the analysis of projected greenhouse gas emis13 sions from each of the following: electric power 

14 generation; transportation; residential, commer15 cial, and industrial fuel use; natural gas and oil 

16 systems; coal mining and abandoned mines; ag17 riculture; industrial processes; land use, land 

18 use change, and forestry; and waste manage19 ment. 

20 (4) Lessons that can be learned from State leg21 islatures that have successfully implemented carbon 

22 scoring for legislative proposals. 

Æ 


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