H.R.3147 - Transparency and Honesty in Energy Regulations Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3147, the "Transparency and Honesty in Energy Regulations Act," seeks to prohibit federal agencies from considering the social cost of carbon, methane, nitrous oxide, or any other greenhouse gas when taking actions. This includes cost-benefit analyses, rulemakings, guidance issuances, and other agency actions. The bill mandates a report to Congress detailing past uses of these social cost estimates since January 2009.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would prevent federal agencies from using the social cost of greenhouse gases in their decision-making processes. This could lead to regulations that are less stringent on emissions, potentially impacting environmental and public health outcomes. It could also alter the economic justification for various energy and environmental policies.
Potential Benefits
- Could reduce regulatory burdens on businesses, potentially leading to lower energy costs.
- May streamline the regulatory process by removing a complex and debated factor from consideration.
- Could lead to increased domestic energy production by reducing the perceived cost of fossil fuels.
- Might prevent agencies from using potentially inflated or biased social cost estimates.
- Could promote transparency by focusing on direct, measurable costs and benefits.
Potential Disadvantages
- Could lead to underestimation of the long-term environmental and public health costs of greenhouse gas emissions.
- May result in less stringent environmental regulations, potentially increasing pollution.
- Could hinder efforts to mitigate climate change by discounting the economic impacts of greenhouse gases.
- Might disproportionately affect vulnerable populations who are more susceptible to the impacts of climate change and pollution.
- Could undermine the scientific basis of regulatory decision-making by ignoring established methodologies for assessing social costs.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's alignment with the Constitution is complex. Congress has the power to regulate commerce (Article I, Section 8), which includes environmental regulations. However, the extent to which Congress can dictate the methodologies used by agencies in their decision-making is subject to debate. The bill does not appear to infringe on individual rights or freedoms explicitly protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).