[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 177 (Thursday, October 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 23--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
 A CARBON TAX WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. CASSIDY (for himself, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Lee, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Risch, 
Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Lummis, Mr. 
Rounds, Mr. Budd, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Cruz, and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Finance:

                            S. Con. Res. 23

       Whereas a carbon tax is a regressive domestic Federal tax 
     on carbon dioxide released in the United States;
       Whereas a carbon tax will--
       (1) discourage manufacturing and energy production in the 
     United States;
       (2) lead to more jobs and businesses moving overseas;
       (3) lead to less economic growth;
       (4) restrict the global competitiveness of the United 
     States; and
       (5) primarily harm the working-class families of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the ingenuity of the United States in energy 
     development practices has increased the availability of the 
     energy resources of the United States and lowered the 
     pollution associated with extracting and producing these 
     energy resources;
       Whereas the energy policy of the United States should 
     encourage continued private sector innovation and development 
     and not increase the existing tax burden on manufacturers;
       Whereas the production of the energy resources of the 
     United States projects geopolitical strength and increases 
     the ability of the United States to maintain a competitive 
     advantage in the global economy;
       Whereas the loss of jobs and businesses to countries 
     overseas--
       (1) serves to weaken the supply chain security of the 
     United States; and
       (2) represents a threat to the economic security and 
     economic and social development of the United States;
       Whereas the only countries that stand to benefit as a 
     result of the United States implementing a carbon tax are 
     countries that ignore responsible development and lower 
     prices of manufacturing by polluting without consequence;
       Whereas the United States' most pressing strategic rival, 
     China, stands to benefit the most from the United States 
     choosing to undercut domestic industry through a carbon tax;
       Whereas China, by far the world's largest polluter, 
     accounts for approximately 30 percent of global carbon 
     dioxide emissions and subsidizes its exports by not imposing 
     or enforcing reasonable environmental or labor standards;
       Whereas, even without a carbon tax, manufacturers in the 
     United States are forced to compete with companies in China 
     and elsewhere that face few limits on how much they pollute;
       Whereas, without a carbon tax, the United States, domestic 
     energy producers, and domestic manufacturers have reduced 
     greenhouse gas emissions more than any other economy since 
     2005;
       Whereas a carbon tax would undercut the ability of 
     manufacturers in the United States to invest in further 
     development and other efforts that would continue to 
     voluntarily reduce pollution in their operations;
       Whereas it is inconceivable that the United States 
     Government would punish the workers and manufacturers of the 
     United States with a carbon tax despite the United States' 
     standing as a global leader in relation to the environmental 
     performance of its industry;
       Whereas the loss of jobs and businesses to countries 
     overseas serves to result in greater pollution;
       Whereas more production in the United States is also a 
     benefit to the environment by preventing the expansion of 
     less efficient production in other countries like China;
       Whereas anti-carbon tax, pro-growth solutions can reverse 
     the trend of the people of the United States being left 
     behind economically; and
       Whereas the Congress and the President should focus on pro-
     growth solutions that encourage increased development of 
     domestic resources: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that a carbon 
     tax would be detrimental to the families and businesses of 
     the United States while severely harming the economic and 
     national security of the United States.

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