Expressing support for the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement.
- Bill Number
- H.Con.Res. 29
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-21: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-22T21:18:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 29) aims to express formal support from the U.S. Congress for the President's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is an international pact adopted in 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, focused on limiting global warming through national commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Key Provisions
- The resolution states that Congress supports the President's action to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
- It defines the "Paris Agreement" as the decision from the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) held in Paris, France, on December 12, 2015.
- As a concurrent resolution, it requires approval by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but does not need the President's signature and carries no legal force.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This resolution introduces no changes to existing laws or treaties. It is a non-binding expression of congressional opinion and does not alter U.S. obligations under international agreements or domestic statutes related to climate policy.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: It may encourage executive branch agencies, such as the Department of State or Environmental Protection Agency, to prioritize withdrawal processes, potentially reducing resources allocated to Paris Agreement compliance.
- On Citizens: U.S. citizens, particularly those in industries affected by climate regulations (e.g., energy or manufacturing), might see indirect effects through shifts in federal environmental policies, though no immediate legal changes occur.
- On International Relations: The resolution could strain ties with allies committed to the Paris Agreement (e.g., European Union countries), signaling U.S. disengagement from global climate efforts and potentially isolating the U.S. in multilateral environmental diplomacy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Congress and President: Directly involved, as the resolution reflects bipartisan congressional backing (introduced by Representatives Barr and Moore of West Virginia) for executive action.
- Environmental and Industry Groups: Climate advocacy organizations may oppose it, while fossil fuel and manufacturing sectors could benefit from reduced international climate pressures.
- International Community: Nations participating in the Paris Agreement (nearly 200 countries) may view this as a setback to global cooperation on climate change.
- U.S. States and Local Governments: Subnational entities pursuing independent climate goals (e.g., California) might face policy misalignment with federal signals.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Lacks binding authority, so it does not override the President's treaty withdrawal powers under Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which allows the executive to exit international agreements without Senate consent.
- Constitutional: Reinforces the separation of powers by having Congress voice support for executive foreign policy without enacting enforceable law.
- Political: Serves as a symbolic gesture that could influence future debates on climate policy, energize partisan divides (e.g., between Republican-led withdrawal efforts and Democratic support for rejoining), and impact midterm or presidential elections by highlighting energy independence versus global environmental commitments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-21: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-04-21: Submitted in House
- 2025-04-21: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement. — issued 2025-04-21 — PDF (1 pages)