Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Dist. 8), one of the highest-ranking members of the U.S. House of Representatives, today unveiled landmark legislation to help solve the global warming crisis. Van Hollen’s “Cap and Dividend Act of 2009” employs a novel but increasingly popular approach that will help grow our economy and help working families prosper. It is simple, transparent and fair.

CCAN PRESS RELEASE
4/1/09

TAKOMA PARK, MD — Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Dist. 8), one of the highest-ranking members of the U.S. House of Representatives, today unveiled landmark legislation to help solve the global warming crisis. Van Hollen’s “Cap and Dividend Act of 2009” employs a novel but increasingly popular approach that will help grow our economy and help working families prosper. It is simple, transparent and fair.

“The science of climate change can be complicated, but the legislative solution doesn’t have to be,” said Rep. Van Hollen. “The strength of cap and dividend lies in its simplicity and durability. All permits are sold at auction, and all proceeds are given back to the American people. As the price of energy rises, the monthly dividends will keep American consumers whole.”

“At its core, any successful climate change bill cannot just reduce carbon emissions. It must attract and retain the long-term, popular support of the American people,” Van Hollen added. “I believe the cap and dividend approach offers the best chance to get the job done.”

Given the region’s extreme vulnerability to climate change through sea level rise and bigger storms, and given the need for sound economic policies during these challenging times, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network applauded the Van Hollen bill as a superior contribution to the national discussion over global warming.

CCAN director Mike Tidwell said, “This bill speaks loudly: We need a strong cap on carbon fuels, we need to auction 100 percent of the permits, and must transfer the revenues back to all Marylanders, all Virginians, and all Americans to protect their pocketbooks while ushering in a clean-energy transformation. This bill does it all.”

The legislation will cut carbon pollution to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. It auctions 100% of the carbon permits – instead of giving them away to large polluters — and allows for no potentially complex “carbon offsets” of any kind. And it protects the purchasing power of American families by returning every penny of higher carbon prices to citizens on a monthly, per capita basis. Every American, every month, will receive an “Energy Security Dividend.”

“No other carbon cap proposal does as much to help American families, our economy, and our planet,” said Tidwell.

Renowned author and activist Bill McKibben said, “Simplicity is its own virtue sometimes, and this is one of them. Van Hollen’s bill sets out a straightforward mechanism for reducing carbon in the atmosphere in a way that will actually be popular with voters. It’s the most innovative, yet obvious, piece of climate legislation in the 20 years I’ve been following this battle.”

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