Reschenthaler Opposes Legislation to Cripple U.S. Energy Sector
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) voted to protect jobs and further economic growth by opposing H.R. 9, a bill that would prevent President Donald J. Trump from withdrawing from the Obama Administration's costly Paris Agreement commitments.
According to reports, meeting these commitments could cost U.S. GDP $250 billion and 2.7 million jobs by 2025. By bringing H.R. 9 to the floor, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats continue to engage in political showmanship, as the Trump Administration has already indicated the president would veto this legislation.
"I support President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement," said Reschenthaler. "This was an unfair deal that put our country at a disadvantage by giving a free pass to the world's worst polluters while forcing unrealistic demands on our national economy. As our nation reaches its energy dominance and continues to reduce emissions through innovation, House Democrats want us to put our economic growth, jobs, and security at risk by forcing President Trump to implement the Paris Agreement."
When President Obama unilaterally accepted the Paris Agreement in 2016 under the United Nations climate change treaty, he did not conduct any cost-benefit analysis nor did he seek input from outside stakeholders or Congress. Instead, he blindly committed our country to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, putting us at a disadvantage compared to other countries such as China and India who didn't pledge to cut emissions until 2030. In June 2017, President Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement as early as November 2020.
The U.S. has already seen the largest absolute decline in emissions among all countries since 2000, according to the International Energy Agency. Between 2000 and 2014, our nation reduced emissions by more than 18 percent.
The Paris Agreement would yield the following outcomes by 2035:
- An overall average shortfall of nearly 400,000 jobs;
- An average manufacturing shortfall of over 200,000 jobs;
- A total income loss of more than $20,000 for a family of four;
- An aggregate gross domestic product loss of over $2.5 trillion; and
- Increases in household electricity expenditures between 13 percent and 20 percent.
"I opposed H.R. 9 today to protect jobs for hardworking Pennsylvanians and the families who rely on them," said Reschenthaler. "I support an energy proposal that expands and improves our energy infrastructure, invests in new and emerging technologies, and increases our nation's role in promoting global energy security."
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