[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 74 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 74

Encouraging the Architect of the Capitol to transition to the exclusive 
 use of electricity derived from renewable energy sources to power the 
                 United States Capitol Complex by 2032.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 14, 2019

Mr. Neguse (for himself, Mr. Case, Ms. Craig, Ms. Haaland, Mr. Levin of 
 California, Ms. Mucarsel-Powell, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Rose of New York, 
  Ms. Scanlon, Ms. Schrier, Ms. Shalala, Mr. Stanton, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. 
     Underwood, and Mr. Rouda) submitted the following concurrent 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Encouraging the Architect of the Capitol to transition to the exclusive 
 use of electricity derived from renewable energy sources to power the 
                 United States Capitol Complex by 2032.

Whereas according to the 2018 National Climate Assessment, without substantial 
        and sustained global mitigation and regional adaption efforts, climate 
        change is expected to cause growing losses to American infrastructure 
        and property and impede the rate of economic growth over this century;
Whereas according to the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 
        Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 Celsius, to avoid the most 
        devastating impacts of climate change, the world must limit the warming 
        of the global average temperature to 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial 
        levels;
Whereas according to the IPCC, reaching and sustaining net zero global 
        anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions is necessary for halting 
        anthropogenic global warming;
Whereas according to the IPCC, in order to limit global warming to 1.5 Celsius 
        above pre-industrial levels, the world must achieve carbon neutrality by 
        2050, which will require rapid, dramatic changes in how governments, 
        industries, and societies function;
Whereas the IPCC has reported that in comparison to global warming of 1.5 
        Celsius, global warming of 2 Celsius will result in a greater number of 
        severe heat waves, more extreme storms, increased poverty, and the 
        degradation of critical ecosystems;
Whereas climate change impacts will be felt disproportionately by communities of 
        color and low-income communities;
Whereas to address the urgent need to limit global warming to 1.5 Celsius, the 
        IPCC has recommended increasing installation of renewable energy 
        systems, with a goal of such systems generating 70 to 80 percent of 
        global electricity by 2050;
Whereas investing in the clean energy economy, with strong labor and procurement 
        standards, will create quality jobs;
Whereas according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 
        2019 was the warmest month on record globally;
Whereas the world's cities occupy 2 percent of global land mass, but are 
        responsible for up to 70 percent of harmful greenhouse gas emissions;
Whereas more than 350 mayors in the United States have adopted the Paris 
        Agreement goals for their cities, including Washington, DC;
Whereas in the fight against climate change, cities and counties have become 
        important leaders because of their role as laboratories, incubators, and 
        implementers of climate solutions;
Whereas on January 18, 2019, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the 
        CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, which mandates that, by 
        2032, 100 percent of the electricity sold at retail in the District be 
        derived from renewable energy sources, and also includes an ambitious 
        building performance standard; and
Whereas it is critical that Congress leads by example for American cities, 
        communities, and people, by committing to renewable energy to combat 
        climate change: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. ENCOURAGING TRANSITION TO EXCLUSIVE USE OF ELECTRICITY 
              DERIVED FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES FOR THE UNITED 
              STATES CAPITOL COMPLEX.

    (a) Transition.--In order to address climate change, and in keeping 
with the recommendations of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 
and consistent with the Building Energy Performance Standard Program of 
the District of Columbia, Congress encourages the Architect of the 
Capitol to transition to the exclusive use of electricity derived from 
renewable energy sources to power the United States Capitol Complex by 
2032.
    (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``United States Capitol 
Complex'' means the Capitol buildings (as defined in section 5101 of 
title 40, United States Code) and the United States Capitol Grounds (as 
described in section 5102 of such title).
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