On the eve of President Obama's trip to Copenhagen, Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) has introduced H. Res. 945, a resolution that raises serious concerns about the harm that an international climate change treaty could do to our economy and national sovereignty.
"I am concerned that any job-killing, cap-and-tax style treaty could seriously harm American families and small businesses. Our economy is facing a skyrocketing national debt and 10 percent unemployment. We must reject any attempt by international bureaucrats to stifle economic growth with a massive energy tax or by huge transfers of wealth from the U.S. to other countries.
"Right now in Congress, if the Democrat cap-and-tax bill were to be enacted into law, one analysis indicates it will reduce gross domestic product by nearly $400 billion annually. According to a study by the National Black Chamber of Commerce, cap-and-trade would cut net employment by 2.5 million jobs. Any such tax on an international scale would likewise devastate our economy.
"Additionally, any such treaty could undermine American sovereignty. The United States should not be legally bound to submit domestic decisions about energy and emissions to international inspection, compliance, and enforcement. We already have too many unelected bureaucrats in our U.S. government, and adding an international layer- one that is not accountable to the American taxpayer - is completely unacceptable.
"I urge the President to make American workers and families his top priority. We cannot afford to keep killing jobs by misguided policy decisions. Reject this ill-conceived scheme of international wealth transfer. "--Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)
Congressman Doug Lamborn introduced H. Res. 945 on December 4, 2009. The resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives regarding three nonnegotiable conditions the United States must adhere to while representatives are discussing any international agreement on greenhouse gas emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. These conditions include not signing a treaty if it results in significant harm to our economy, if it compromises American sovereignty, or if other countries are not held to the same standards.
Current Cosponsors: Lamborn, McCotter, Garrett, Foxx, Young, Latta, Franks, Chaffetz, Blackburn, Harper, Pitts, Lummis, Fallin, Brady, King, Posey, Luetkemeyer, Culberson, Barton, Gingrey, Bishop, Bartlett, Tiberi, Bachus, Broun, Cole, Sensenbrenner, Coffman, Herger, Souder, Thompson, Akin, Wamp, Hunter, Shadegg, Burton, Roe, P. Ryan, Hensarling, Marchant, Alexander, Conaway, Gohmert, R. Hall, Jordan, Bilirakis, Scalise
In 1997, the 3rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change produced the Kyoto Protocol, which was an international agreement on greenhouse gases, and took effect in 2005 and is set to expire in 2012. The U.S. did not ratify that treaty.
Starting this past Monday, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is meeting in Copenhagen to discuss the creation of a universal climate change treaty. This conference is generally seen as a platform to create a Kyoto II.
Before the American delegation headed to Kyoto, the Senate adopted the Byrd-Hagel Resolution in a 95-0 vote that clearly spelled out that the U.S. should not enter into a treaty that either leaves out developing nations like China or poses harm to the American economy.
The Kyoto Protocol violated both provisions, and neither the Clinton nor Bush administrations submitted to the Senate for the required ratification. Those countries that did ratify the protocol failed to produce any reduction in greenhouse gases.
These same concerns exist today, which is why Congressman Lamborn has adopted the Byrd-Hagel language as a guide and added a provision to address any sovereignty concerns. Click here to view the resolution.