Date: 2009-06-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. like my colleagues. we will miss you and good luck in your new endeavor in the administration. Today the House is set to consider the first comprehensive climate program in the- history of the House of Representatives. and I support H.R. This bill represents efforts to reach a consensus across our diverse membership and produce legislation that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions both at home but also abroad. If Congress does nothing. greenhouse gas emissions could be regulated administratively through the EPA without input from Members that represent diverse constituencies nationwide. I represent the Port of Houston. a petrochemical " d6mplex that stretches along the Texas gulf coast ahd is home to thousands of chemical industry and petroleum refining jobs. We cannot allow the petrochemical and refining industries to migrate out of America. They are vital to our economy and to our national security. and we cannot outsource that capability. These energyintensive industries could be left vulnerable to foreign competitors not facing carbon regulations if we do ndt carefully craft transitional policies to prevent job loss and strengthen U.S. industries at home. I want to thank Congressman INSLEE and Congressman DOYLE for putting. forth a proposal to provide 15 percent of the free allowances to emissionintensive industries to address competitive concerns. especially in the chemical industry. If a manufacturing facility is energy intensive and trade exposed. allowances will be provided to that facility on a production output basis. providing. rebates for both the direct and indirect costs of complying with the climate program. These rebates will level the playing field relative to imports while encouraging emission reductions. The bill also helps protects the U.S. domestic refining industry while creating a climatechange program. Oulr domestic refiners will face a .competitive disadvantage with foreign dompetitors that are not subject to carbon regulations. U.S. refiners in this bill will receive 2 percent of the allowances starting in 2014 and ending in 2026. plus an additional .25 percent for small business refiners. Thats over onehalf of the projected 4 percent of refined emissions. This funding will help defray expenses associated with direct and indirect costs and their stationary source of emissions under the cap as well as help improve the efficiency of refineries through technical and feedstock changes. To level the playing field. foreign importers of refined oil must pay for carbon content of imported fuel. just as our domestic producers have to do. Madam Speaker. And thats why I think this bill is a good first step. If I were writing it. it would be different. Madam Speaker. today the House is set to consider the first comprehensive climate pro-. gram in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives and I support H.R. 2454. This bill represents efforts to reach consensus across our diverse membership and produce legislation that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions both at home and abroad. If Congress does nothing. greenhouse gas emissions could be regulated administratively through the EPA without input from Members that represent diverse constituencies nationwide. I represent the port of Houston. a petrochemical complex that stretches along the Texas Gulf Coast and is home to thousands of chemical industry and petroleum refining jobs. We cannot allow the" petrochemical and refining industries to riigrate- out of America. They are vital to our economy. to our national security. and we cannot outsource this capa-. bility. These energyintensive industries could be left vulnerable. to foreign-.competitors not facing carbon regulations if we do not carefullycraft transitional policies to prevent job loss and strengthen U.S. industries at.home. I want to thank Congressman INSLEE and Congressman DOYLE for putting forward a proposal to provide 15 percent of free allowances to emissionsintensive industries to address competitiveness concerns. especially in the chemical industry. If a manufacturing facility is energyintensive and tradeexposed. allowances will be provided to that facility on a production output basis. providing rebates for both the direct and indirect costs of complying with the climate program. These rebates will level the playing field relative to imports while encouraging emission reductions. The bill also helps protect the U.S. domestic refining industry while creating a climate change program. Our domestic refiners will face a competitive disadvantage with foreign competitors that are not subject to carbon regulations. U.S. refiners will receive 2 percent of allowances starting in 2014 and ending in 2026. plus an additional .25 percent for small business refiners. Thats over onehalf of the projected 4 percent of refinery emissions. This funding will help defray expenses associated with the direct and indirect costs of their stationary source emissions under the cap. as well as help improve the energy efficiency of refineries through technological and feedstock changes. To level the playing field. foreign importers of refined oil must pay for the carbon content of imported fuel. as do domestic refiners. While I believe the refining industry could use additional assistance. and I hope any final agreement does so. this is a reasonable first step to protecting our energy infrastructure and keeping goodpaying jobs here at home. These proposals however. cannot substitute for the need for a strong international agreement with binding carbon reductions amongst the worlds largest emitters. including developing countries.