U.S. House Passes Climate Change Bill

Before adjourning for the July 4th recess, the U.S. House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act by a vote of 219 to 212. While elements of the legislation have been praised for creating jobs by inducing demand for energy efficiency improvements and alternative energy generation, there is grave concern that the climate change cap and trade provisions will significantly increase the cost of energy for producing construction materials and powering construction equipment. The AGC of America lobbied against the bill, stating that ultimately “the increased energy costs will decrease demand for construction at a time when the economy can least afford it.”

The AGC and CAWP contacted members of Congress to express additional concerns about how the bill would negatively impact future transportation investments and add new and onerous planning requirements for projects. According to the Congressional Budget Office the bill would raise the price of gasoline by 77 cents over the next decade. And unlike a traditional fuel tax increase, none of the revenue raised will be spent on highways. The increased cost of fuel would more than likely stifle efforts to raise the motor fuels user fee, which is used to repair and expand our Nation’s crumbling transportation infrastructure.

In addition, the bill would add new and onerous "planning" requirements for states and metropolitan regions that will further slow an already comprehensive and arduous federally-mandated transportation planning process. The new requirements would create disincentives to state and local planners to include new highway and bridge capacity in their transportation plans.

There remains a long road ahead for the bill, as it moves to the U.S. Senate, which is not expected to take up the issue until the fall at the earliest—and the path to passage there will be tougher.

The following provides a summary of how the western Pennsylvania Congressional delegation voted on this issue:

Voting against the Cap and Trade bill
Jason Altmire
Kathy Dahlkemper
Tim Murphy
Bill Shuster
Glenn Thompson

Voting for the Cap and Trade bill
Mike Doyle
John Murtha