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Environmental Legislation
As your Representative in Congress, I will push for strong environmental policies. This includes a Corporate Carbon Tax that will encourage polluters to become more efficient. I will seek historic fuel efficiency standards that break America’s dependence on Middle East oil push to make America the world leader on climate change and bring energy costs down for families and businesses. I believe that by mandating the framework of the Sanders "Cap-and-trade" legislation and the toughest, most transparent rules possible, we can make serious reductions to carbon emissions every decade. By 2020, the U.S. must reduce its emissions by 15% of 80 percent below 1990 levels; by 2040, emissions must be reduced by 2/3 of 80 percent; and by 2050, emissions must be reduced to a level that is 80 percent. A portion of the allocated Corporate Carbon Tax credits must be auctioned off and revenues directed to the Corporate Carbon Tax Trust Fund. In Congress, I will be an advocate for this policy. A Corporate Carbon Tax will discourage big corporate polluters and stimulate innovation. The goal is to have the revenues of a corporate carbon tax estimated at over $50 billion annually placed into a Corporate Carbon Tax Trust Fund to fund:
We must increase efficiency standards for consumer products. I will push for the adoption of stronger standards for appliances, light bulbs and other electricity powered consumer products to reduce energy costs for consumers. This includes reducing costs of energy efficient consumer products such as lighting, automobiles and appliances, making them price competitive. Efficiency is a priority. Congress must raise fuel economy standards in automobiles to at least 50 mpg. As your Representative, I will push for legislation that will establish fuel economy standards ensuring all cars get at least 50 miles per gallon by model year 2017, lowering our emissions. It is imperative that Congress impose tough standards for construction of new coal plants. I will support legislation that requires all new plants capture and sequester CO2. No exceptions. I will not support investing in "coal to liquid" technologies and programs - turning coal into liquid fuel does not support the overall goal of turning the clock back on global climate change and is not consistent with reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I will support legislation that increases renewable electricity standard to at least 20%. The best proven method to reduce costs of renewable sources of energy is to set tough but achievable renewable electricity standards. There must be economic incentives to any policy that impact American businesses, so I will support legislation that makes a production tax credit permanent for clean and renewable sources of energy. A permanent production tax credit is a powerful economic incentive for energy producers to increase their use of clean and renewable technologies. By making a production tax credit permanent, energy companies will continue to develop alternative energy sources like wind and solar power with the knowledge that they will continue to receive an economic incentive for their innovation. I will support legislation that will make high-efficiency automobiles affordable for every American family. Americans will purchase more efficient cars and trucks like hybrids if they are competitively priced. By providing an array of incentives and tax rebates, we can speed the transition from traditional cars to much more efficient hybrid vehicles. Changing the way we live will require a sea change. Congress must create a technical education curriculum that trains a new generation of automobile mechanics, electricians, plumbers, and construction workers to install, repair and maintain energy efficient goods across the spectrum, from cars to lamps. Training programs must:
As your Representative, I will work to increase access to affordable and convenient mass transit systems across all regions of the country. Mass transit saves families money in fuel costs and lowers pollution by reducing the number of cars on the road during rush hours. I will advocate the exportation of safe renewable energy technologies to friends, allies, and developing nations. We all know renewable and clean energy technology will allow America to achieve energy independence. As your Representative, I fully understand the power of that technology to transform not only American society, but others. By sharing that technology with other nations, we can allow them to end their alliances of necessity with dictators from oil-producing nations like Venezuela and Iran and once again begin to take up America’s role as a responsible world leader. |
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