On June 22, 2009, House Democrat Leaders released an updated 1,200 page Waxman-Markey “Cap and Tax” bill (H.R. 2454) that is expected to come to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as early as Friday, June 26^th.

In addition to forcing a massive new National Energy Tax upon the American people, buried in this legislation are provisions that impose even more economic punishment on Americans.   For example, this bill provides more support for wildlife, tropical trees in foreign countries, and foreign aid than the 2.5 million Americans who the National Black Chamber of Commerce estimates will lose their jobs as a direct result of this legislation.

In their plans to allocate the revenue from the National Energy Tax, Democrats provide four times as much to wildlife/natural resources/domestic adaptation, four times as much to international adaptation (i.e. – foreign aid) and clean technology transfer, and five times as much to tropical forests than they provide for Americans who lose their job because of this bill.   

Waxman-Markey Benefits for Wildlife, Tropical Forests, Foreign Aid and Jobless Americans

During a serious recession with rising unemployment, now is the worst time possible for the Democrat Congress to pass legislation that would ship more American jobs overseas to China and India – two countries that have shown no intention of enacting a massive cap-and-tax plan. And if the Democrat Congress does pass this bill, Democrat Leaders should at least provide more for unemployed American workers than for wildlife or for tropical trees in foreign countries.

Instead of holding a vote on this economically-devastating bill, Democrat Leaders should hold a vote on the American Energy Act (H.R. 2846) – legislation that will help Americans by protecting our environment, providing affordable energy, and creating new high-paying jobs.  This Republican plan is an all-of-the-above energy solution that includes specific measures to encourage development of renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, hydropower, nuclear and biomass, while also producing more American-made oil and natural gas.

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