I 
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 de-
termined 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 Representa-
tives 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’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States is a world leader in ad-
dressing climate change risks through private sector- 
led innovation and technological advancement. 
(2) The United States Energy Information Ad-
ministration estimates that United States energy-re-
lated 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 lev-
els 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 abso-
lute decline among all countries since 2000’’. 
(5) President Obama unilaterally joined the 
Paris Agreement without involving Congress, with-
out consulting outside stakeholders such as energy 
companies, and without conducting a cost-benefit 
analysis, including an analysis of how a United 
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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 Con-
sulting in 2017 found that meeting the commitments 
President Obama made as part of the Paris Agree-
ment 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 mak-
ing its NDC under the Paris Agreement. 
(8) The PRC is the world’s largest emitter of 
greenhouse gases, and according to the NDC sub-
mitted by the Chinese Communist Party, it will con-
tinue raising emissions until 2030. 
(9) On September 22, 2020, CCP General Sec-
retary 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. 
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(10) According to the IEA, coal-fired power 
plants were the single largest emitter of carbon diox-
ide 
in 
2018. 
China 
has 
dedicated 
over 
$50,000,000,000 through the Belt and Road Initia-
tive 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 Con-
gress not fewer than 30 days prior to submitting, pursuant 
to article 4 of the Paris Agreement, any nationally deter-
mined 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. 
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(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 tech-
nologies, 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, tech-
nologies, and expertise for the benefit of the United 
States and United States allies and trading part-
ners. 
(6) An analysis of the NDCs submitted with re-
spect 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 sup-
ply chains. 
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(8) A description of how the NDC will support 
United States international efforts to alleviate en-
ergy 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 ‘‘Congres-
sional Review Act’’). 
Æ 
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