Expressing strong disapproval of the President's announcement to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

Bill Number

H.Res. 68

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-24: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2025-03-25T08:05:54Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 68) aims to formally express the House of Representatives' strong disapproval of President Trump's January 20, 2025, announcement to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international pact to combat climate change. It underscores the severe risks of climate change to health, economy, security, and future generations, while highlighting U.S. leadership benefits from participation and urging a reversal of the decision.

Key Provisions

The resolution is structured around a series of "Whereas" clauses providing factual background on climate impacts, the Paris Agreement's history, and U.S. policy shifts, followed by a "Resolved" section with four main directives:

• Strong disapproval: The House explicitly disapproves of the President's withdrawal announcement.
• Commendation of supporters: It praises states, cities, colleges, universities, businesses, investors, and individuals who have voiced support for the Paris Agreement.
• Urging reversal: It calls on the President to reverse the decision and keep the U.S. in the agreement.
• Congressional priority: It encourages Congress to focus on U.S. global leadership in addressing climate change.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, meaning it does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It serves as a symbolic statement of congressional sentiment rather than enforceable policy. No direct changes to statutes or treaties are introduced, though it references past U.S. withdrawals (2017) and rejoining (2021) under previous administrations.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: Could pressure executive branch agencies (e.g., State Department, Environmental Protection Agency) involved in international climate commitments, potentially complicating implementation of withdrawal processes or related domestic policies like emissions reductions.
• On citizens: Highlights risks to public health (e.g., heat-related illnesses, wildfires), economy (e.g., $150 billion annual disaster costs), and security from climate extremes; withdrawal might slow progress on job-creating clean energy initiatives, affecting workers in manufacturing and innovation sectors.
• On international relations: Risks isolating the U.S. diplomatically, as it would align it only with non-participants like Iran, Libya, and Yemen; could undermine global emissions efforts (reducing world reductions by over a third without U.S. involvement) and cede clean energy leadership to nations like China, straining alliances with the 195 Paris Agreement parties.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. federal government: President, Congress, and agencies handling foreign policy and environmental regulation.
• State and local governments: 22 states and territories in the U.S. Climate Alliance committed to Paris goals, plus cities and universities supporting participation.
• Businesses and investors: Clean energy sector (e.g., benefiting from $422 billion in investments and 406,000 jobs from recent laws like the Inflation Reduction Act), including the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders representing $4 trillion in revenue.
• Citizens and vulnerable groups: Americans facing climate risks, including children, elderly, low-income individuals, and those with health conditions; public opinion (68% support per 2023 survey) and religious communities advocating action.
• International community: Paris Agreement signatories (e.g., China, India, EU), global economies reliant on U.S. emissions cuts for worldwide benefits.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: No direct legal effects, as resolutions lack binding force; however, it reaffirms U.S. obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (a treaty the U.S. ratified) and notes withdrawal's one-year process under Paris rules.
• Constitutional: Touches on separation of powers, with Congress asserting its role in foreign affairs oversight (e.g., via the Foreign Affairs Committee referral) against executive treaty actions, potentially setting up debates on presidential authority in international agreements.
• Political: Reflects partisan divides, introduced by over 100 Democrats; could influence midterm elections, public discourse, and future climate legislation, while signaling bipartisan state-level support (e.g., U.S. Climate Alliance includes red and blue states). It emphasizes moral and economic imperatives without partisan attacks.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]

Cosponsors (162)

Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray, Jr. [D-CA-31], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34] and 112 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-24: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-01-24: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Expressing strong disapproval of the President’s announcement to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. — issued 2025-01-24 — PDF (7 pages)