[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5221 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5221

To declare a national goal that the United States achieve a 100 percent 
     clean economy by not later than 2050, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 21, 2019

 Mr. McEachin (for himself, Ms. Haaland, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Blumenauer, 
  Mr. Tonko, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. 
  Scott of Virginia, Mr. Engel, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Smith of 
 Washington, Ms. Waters, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. 
 Velazquez, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Takano, Mr. Rush, Ms. Adams, 
Mr. Aguilar, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Bass, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Bera, Mr. Beyer, 
 Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Brendan 
F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Ms. Brownley of California, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. 
Carson of Indiana, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Castro of Texas, Ms. Judy Chu of 
California, Mr. Cisneros, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Ms. Clarke of New 
 York, Mr. Clay, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Cooper, Mr. 
 Crist, Mr. Crow, Mr. Cunningham, Mrs. Davis of California, Ms. Dean, 
Ms. DeGette, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. DelBene, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Doggett, Mr. 
     Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, Ms. Escobar, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. 
  Espaillat, Mr. Evans, Ms. Frankel, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. 
Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Hastings, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Heck, Mr. Himes, Ms. 
   Houlahan, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Jeffries, Mr. Johnson of 
 Georgia, Mr. Keating, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kildee, 
    Mr. Kilmer, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr. 
  Langevin, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mrs. 
 Lawrence, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Levin of Michigan, Mr. Levin of 
 California, Mr. Ted Lieu of California, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Lowenthal, 
 Mr. Lujan, Mrs. Luria, Mr. Malinowski, Ms. Matsui, Ms. McCollum, Mr. 
 McNerney, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Meng, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Mucarsel-
   Powell, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Norton, Mr. Panetta, Mr. 
Pappas, Mr. Payne, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Peters, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Pocan, 
 Ms. Porter, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Raskin, Ms. 
    Roybal-Allard, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. 
Sarbanes, Ms. Scanlon, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Schrader, Ms. 
Schrier, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Shalala, Ms. Sherrill, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. Soto, 
 Ms. Spanberger, Ms. Speier, Mr. Stanton, Ms. Stevens, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. 
  Thompson of California, Mr. Trone, Ms. Underwood, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. 
  Vargas, Mr. Veasey, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. 
  Welch, Ms. Wexton, Ms. Wild, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Swalwell of 
 California, Mrs. Trahan, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Horsford, and 
  Mr. Lynch) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To declare a national goal that the United States achieve a 100 percent 
     clean economy by not later than 2050, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``100% Clean Economy Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL GOAL.

    It is hereby declared that it is the national goal for the United 
States to achieve a 100 percent clean economy by not later than 2050.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) In 2018, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on 
        Climate Change released a report which projected that the 
        global mean surface temperature of the Earth could rise 1.5 C 
        above preindustrial levels as early as 2030. Increases beyond 
        this threshold would likely have devastating effects on our 
        society.
            (2) The 2018 report indicates that to prevent 1.5 C of 
        warming above preindustrial levels, emissions from human 
        sources must be reduced by 40 to 60 percent from 2010 levels by 
        2030, and to net zero emissions by 2050.
            (3) The Federal Government can and must play a leading role 
        in global efforts to minimize climate change and to mitigate 
        its worst effects. By achieving a 100 percent clean economy by 
        2050, the United States can take a critical step toward meeting 
        that obligation.
            (4) Greenhouse gas pollution, like many other forms of 
        pollution, adversely affects human beings on both local and 
        global scales. These effects are intersectional and accretive, 
        and the cumulative impact of past and present pollution has 
        fallen disproportionately upon already-vulnerable and -
        marginalized communities, including communities of color, 
        Tribal and indigenous communities, low-income communities, and 
        rural communities. Current and future effects of climate 
        change, including adverse health effects and other harms, are 
        being and will likely continue to be felt first and most 
        severely in many of these same vulnerable communities.
            (5) Governmental action to correct environmental injustice 
        is morally imperative and necessary for public health. Federal 
        policy can and should acknowledge, and make use of, the 
        intersections between the interlinked challenges of correcting 
        environmental injustice and reducing greenhouse gas pollution.
            (6) At the same time, American workers and communities are 
        also suffering from economic inequality and wages are not 
        keeping up with the cost of living for healthcare and other 
        necessities. The trend downward in union representation and the 
        bargaining power that provides for workers has corresponded 
        with an increase in income going to the top 10 percent of 
        earners. Federal climate policy can and should be shaped to 
        diminish economic inequality and expand the rights of workers.
            (7) All people deserve clean air, clean water, a life free 
        from toxic pollution that endanger public health or welfare, 
        and to share in the benefits of a 100 percent clean economy.
            (8) Sound climate policies to achieve a 100 percent clean 
        economy will spur the development and manufacturing of new 
        technologies, the construction and repair of infrastructure, 
        the restoration of natural systems for resilience and carbon 
        sequestration, and the creation of new high-quality jobs. These 
        investments can help ensure the competitiveness of the United 
        States in the global economy.
            (9) As the Federal Government seeks to combat climate 
        change, these new resources and opportunities should be 
        concentrated, as quickly as possible and to the greatest extent 
        practicable, in communities that are currently experiencing or 
        potentially face disproportionate harm from pollution, and that 
        face greater challenges in the transition to a 100 percent 
        clean economy.

SEC. 4. FEDERAL AGENCY PLANS.

    (a) Plan Development.--The head of each Federal agency shall, in 
accordance with this section, develop a plan for actions to be taken by 
the Federal agency, consistent with the Federal agency's mission and 
exclusively through authorities vested in the Federal agency by 
provisions of law other than this Act, to achieve, in combination with 
the other Federal agencies, the national goal declared by section 2. 
Each Federal agency's plan shall include actions that will--
            (1) make significant and rapid progress toward meeting such 
        national goal; and
            (2) constitute a substantial change from business-as-usual 
        policies and practices of such Federal agency.
    (b) Actions To Meet Goals.--
            (1) In general.--Actions selected by the head of a Federal 
        agency to include in a plan developed under subsection (a) may 
        include issuing regulations, providing incentives, carrying out 
        research and development programs, reducing the greenhouse gas 
        emissions of such Federal agency itself, and any other action 
        the head of the Federal agency determines appropriate to 
        achieve the national goal declared by section 2.
            (2) Selection.--In selecting actions to include in a plan 
        developed under subsection (a), the head of each Federal agency 
        shall select actions designed to--
                    (A) improve public health, resilience, and 
                environmental outcomes, especially for rural and low-
                income households, communities of color, Tribal and 
                indigenous communities, deindustrialized communities, 
                and communities that are disproportionately vulnerable 
                to the impacts of climate change and other pollution;
                    (B) provide benefits for consumers, small 
                businesses, farmers and ranchers, and rural 
                communities;
                    (C) prioritize infrastructure investment that 
                reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and other 
                pollutants, creates quality jobs, and makes communities 
                more resilient to the effects of climate change;
                    (D) enhance quality job creation and raise labor 
                standards across the United States economy, including 
                removing policy barriers to labor union organizing, 
                protecting labor agreements, applying prevailing wage, 
                safety and health protections, domestic content, and 
                other provisions;
                    (E) lead in clean and emerging technology 
                production and manufacturing across the supply chain 
                and align policies to ensure United States companies 
                retain their competitive edge in a clean economy;
                    (F) ensure fairness and equity for workers and 
                communities affected by the transition to a 100 percent 
                clean economy; and
                    (G) prepare communities for climate change impacts 
                and risks.
    (c) Proposed Plan.--
            (1) Public comment.--Not later than 6 months after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal agency shall 
        make the proposed plan of the Federal agency developed under 
        subsection (a) available for public comment.
            (2) Interagency review.--Not later than 9 months after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the head of a Federal agency, 
        after considering public comments and revising a proposed plan 
        developed under subsection (a), as appropriate, shall submit 
        the proposed plan to the Administrator for review and comment. 
        The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary where 
        appropriate, shall--
                    (A) evaluate the sufficiency of each such proposed 
                plan individually, and in combination with the proposed 
                plans of other Federal agencies, to achieve the 
                national goal declared by section 2; and
                    (B) provide, not later than 90 days after receiving 
                the proposed plan of a Federal agency, written 
                recommendations to such Federal agency to ensure that 
                the plan is individually, and in combination with the 
                proposed plans of other Federal agencies, sufficient to 
                achieve the national goal declared by section 2 and 
                advance the objectives listed in subsection (b)(2).
    (d) Submission.--Not later than 15 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal agency shall make 
public and submit to Congress--
            (1) a plan developed under subsection (a) that incorporates 
        revisions to the proposed plan, as appropriate, to address the 
        recommendations provided by the Administrator under subsection 
        (c);
            (2) the recommendations provided by the Administrator under 
        subsection (c); and
            (3) recommendations of the Federal agency on additional 
        authority for the Federal agency, if any, that would be helpful 
        for such Federal agency, in combination with the other Federal 
        agencies, to achieve the national goal declared by section 2.
    (e) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
the Secretary as appropriate, shall provide technical assistance upon 
request by any Federal agency in developing or revising a plan under 
this section.
    (f) Implementation.--Beginning not later than 15 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal agency shall 
implement the plan of the Federal agency developed under subsection (a) 
and submitted to Congress under subsection (d).
    (g) Revisions.--Not less frequently than every 24 months after the 
head of a Federal agency submits to Congress the Federal agency's plan 
under subsection (d), the head of such Federal agency, in consultation 
with the Administrator, shall review and revise the plan to ensure it 
is sufficient to achieve, in combination with the plans of the other 
Federal agencies, the national goal declared by section 2. The head of 
each Federal agency shall include the conclusion of each such review 
and any revised plan resulting from such review in the next annual 
report required under subsection (h).
    (h) Annual Report.--Not later than March 31 of the calendar year 
after the calendar year in which each Federal agency is required to 
submit to Congress a plan under subsection (d), and not later than 
March 31 of each year thereafter, the head of each Federal agency shall 
issue a public report on the plan of such Federal agency (including any 
revisions to such plan), actions taken by the Federal agency pursuant 
to such plan, and the effects of such actions, during the preceding 
calendar year.

SEC. 5. ACCOUNTABILITY.

    (a) EPA Review and Reports.--The Administrator shall--
            (1) monitor the overall progress of the United States in 
        reducing greenhouse gas emissions and toward achieving the 
        national goal declared by section 2; and
            (2) not later than September 30 of the calendar year after 
        the calendar year in which each Federal agency is required to 
        submit to Congress a plan under section 4(d), and not later 
        than September 30 of each year thereafter, submit to Congress 
        and publish a report on such progress that includes--
                    (A) a review of how such greenhouse gas emissions 
                reductions relate to the international commitments of 
                the United States; and
                    (B) recommendations developed under subsection (b).
    (b) Recommendations.--The Administrator shall include--
            (1) in each annual report submitted under subsection (a), 
        as appropriate, after consulting with the Secretary and 
        considering any recommendations of the Advisory Committee, 
        recommendations regarding the rate of progress of the United 
        States toward achieving the national goal declared by section 
        2; and
            (2) in an appendix to each such annual report, the 
        recommendations of the Advisory Committee.

SEC. 6. CLEAN ECONOMY FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 3 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall--
            (1) establish an advisory committee, to be known as the 
        Clean Economy Federal Advisory Committee, to make 
        recommendations described in subsection (c); and
            (2) appoint the following members to the Advisory Committee 
        that reflect diversity in gender, age, race, and geography:
                    (A) Two members who are State officials from 
                different States, including at least 1 official from a 
                State that has adopted greenhouse gas reduction 
                targets.
                    (B) Two members who are local government officials 
                from different States than the States represented by 
                the members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A), 
                including--
                            (i) 1 official from a city or county that 
                        has adopted greenhouse gas reduction targets; 
                        and
                            (ii) 1 official from a city or county that 
                        is impacted by the transition away from fossil 
                        energy.
                    (C) One member who represents an environmental 
                nonprofit organization with expertise in mitigation of 
                greenhouse gas emissions.
                    (D) Two members who are members of environmental 
                justice organizations representing environmental 
                justice communities.
                    (E) Two members who are members of climate justice 
                organizations representing communities on the front 
                lines of climate change.
                    (F) Two members who are representatives of Tribal 
                communities, including--
                            (i) 1 member from a community impacted by 
                        pollution from the fossil fuel industry; and
                            (ii) 1 member from a community impacted by 
                        the transition away from fossil energy.
                    (G) Two members who are members of the National 
                Academy of Sciences and have expertise in climate 
                science.
                    (H) Four members who are employed by organized 
                labor unions, including--
                            (i) 1 member from a utility sector union;
                            (ii) 1 member from a transportation sector 
                        union;
                            (iii) 1 member from a manufacturing union; 
                        and
                            (iv) 1 member from a building trades union.
                    (I) Two members who are employed by the power 
                sector, including at least 1 member from a business in 
                the clean energy industry.
                    (J) Two members of the agriculture industry, 
                including 1 member who is a farmer or rancher and 1 
                member who represents an organization that represents 
                family farms.
                    (K) Two members from the transportation sector, 
                including at least 1 member who is a representative of 
                a public transit industry.
                    (L) Two members from the manufacturing sector, 
                including at least 1 member who is from a business that 
                has committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
                    (M) Two members from the commercial and residential 
                building sector, including at least 1 member who is 
                from a business that has committed to improving energy 
                efficiency in commercial or residential buildings.
                    (N) One member with expertise in public health.
                    (O) One member who is a young person who is 
                associated with a climate and environmental 
                organization.
    (b) Organization; Termination.--
            (1) Subcommittees.--The Advisory Committee may, as the 
        Advisory Committee determines appropriate, establish 
        subcommittees to provide advice to the full Advisory Committee 
        on matters within the respective subcommittee's area of 
        expertise. At a minimum, the Advisory Committee shall consider 
        establishing subcommittees on--
                    (A) environmental justice;
                    (B) climate justice;
                    (C) fairness and equity for workers; and
                    (D) the transition of communities dependent upon 
                fossil fuels.
            (2) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall meet not less 
        frequently than 3 times in the first year after it is 
        established, and at least annually thereafter.
            (3) Terms.--A member of the Advisory Committee shall be 
        appointed for a term of 2 years and the Administrator may 
        reappoint members for no more than 3 consecutive terms.
            (4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Advisory Committee shall 
        be filled by the Administrator in the same manner as the 
        original appointment and not later than 180 days after the 
        occurrence of the vacancy.
            (5) Chair.--The Advisory Committee shall appoint a chair 
        from among the members of the Advisory Committee by a majority 
        of those voting, if a quorum is present.
            (6) Quorum.--A \2/3\ majority of members of the full 
        Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum.
            (7) Applicability of faca.--The Advisory Committee shall be 
        subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
            (8) Termination.--The Advisory Committee shall terminate on 
        December 31, 2050.
    (c) Recommendations.--
            (1) Interim goals.--Not later than 15 months after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, and upon the request of the 
        Administrator thereafter, the Advisory Committee shall submit 
        to the Administrator recommendations on one or more interim 
        greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals for the United States 
        to achieve before achieving the national goal declared by 
        section 2.
            (2) Annual review.--Not later than June 30 of the calendar 
        year after the calendar year in which each Federal agency is 
        required to submit to Congress a plan under section 4(d), and 
        not later than June 30 of each year thereafter, and upon the 
        request of the Administrator, the Advisory Committee may 
        provide recommendations for the Administrator to consider in 
        developing recommendations to include in the annual report 
        required under section 5.
            (3) Other matters.--Upon the request of the Administrator, 
        or upon the Advisory Committee's initiative, the Advisory 
        Committee may provide recommendations for the Administrator to 
        consider regarding any of the matters addressed by this Act.

SEC. 7. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTERIM GOALS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, after consulting with 
the Secretary and obtaining the recommendations of the Advisory 
Committee, recommend to Congress one or more interim greenhouse gas 
emissions reduction goals for the United States to achieve before 
achieving the national goal declared by section 2. In selecting one or 
more such interim goals to recommend to Congress, the Administrator 
shall consider--
            (1) the best available science on the needed pace of 
        reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 
        1.5 C;
            (2) the international commitments by the United States to 
        address climate change, so as to ensure that any interim goal 
        is, at a minimum, consistent with such commitments; and
            (3) the degree of progress considered necessary by a given 
        date to maximize the likelihood that there is an economically 
        and technically feasible path forward from such date to achieve 
        the national goal declared by section 2.
    (b) Updates.--Upon request of Congress, or any new international 
commitment by the United States to address climate change, the 
Administrator may recommend to Congress revised or additional interim 
goals.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee'' 
        means the Clean Economy Federal Advisory Committee established 
        pursuant to section 6.
            (2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (3) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' has the 
        meaning given the term ``agency'' in section 551 of title 5, 
        United States Code.
            (4) Greenhouse gas.--The term ``greenhouse gas'' means the 
        heat-trapping gases for which the anthropogenic emissions are 
        estimated and reported in the most recently issued ``Inventory 
        of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks'' prepared annually 
        by the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with the 
        commitments of the United States under the United Nations 
        Framework Convention on Climate Change.
            (5) 100 percent clean economy.--The term ``100 percent 
        clean economy'' means, with respect to the United States, 
        economy-wide, net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, or negative 
        greenhouse gas emissions, after annual accounting for sources 
        and sinks of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions consistent 
        with the coverage of emissions reported by the United States 
        under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate 
        Change.
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
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