This resolution opposes any rollback of the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, emphasizing its critical role in tracking emissions, protecting public health, and supporting scientific integrity and economic growth.
Luz Rivas
Representative
CA-29
This resolution strongly opposes any rollback of the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, emphasizing its critical role in tracking U.S. emissions. The program provides essential, transparent data vital for protecting public health, advancing environmental justice, and supporting federal, state, and business climate initiatives. Undermining this system would erode scientific integrity and hinder efforts to address climate change and pollution impacts.
House Resolution Defends EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Covering 90% of U.S. Emissions
This resolution is essentially a defensive line for the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). Since 2009, this program has acted as the nation’s primary ledger for climate pollution, tracking data from over 8,000 industrial facilities. It doesn’t just count carbon; it covers 85 to 90 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and provides the public with a clear look at who is pumping what into our air. The resolution formally opposes any rollbacks, arguing that the data collected is a cornerstone of public health and economic stability.
The Data Behind Your Neighborhood
Think of the GHGRP as a mandatory nutrition label for big industry. It requires large emitters and fuel suppliers to report their output, which totals about 3 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually. For someone living near an industrial zone, this isn't just a spreadsheet; it’s a tool for accountability. The resolution points out that facilities reporting greenhouse gases often release "co-pollutants"—the nasty stuff like smog-formers and air toxics that cause immediate health issues. By keeping the reporting requirements strict, the resolution aims to ensure that communities have the receipts they need to advocate for cleaner air and hold local plants accountable for the specific chemicals, like benzene or formaldehyde, being released into their backyards.
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
A significant portion of this resolution focuses on environmental justice, highlighting that the burden of pollution isn't shared equally. It cites startling statistics: Black seniors die from airborne particulate matter at triple the rate of other groups, and Latino children face asthma rates 40 percent higher than their White peers. For families in "Cancer Alley" or those living within a half-mile of oil and gas wells, this program is a vital early warning system. The resolution argues that removing these reporting requirements would effectively blindfold these communities, making it nearly impossible to link local health crises to specific industrial activities.
A Ripple Effect for Business and States
This isn't just about environmental activism; it’s about keeping the gears of the modern economy turning. The data produced by the GHGRP is used by the Treasury Department to hand out energy tax credits and by financial firms to judge which companies are actually meeting their sustainability goals. Furthermore, ten states—including California, New York, and Colorado—have built their own state laws around this federal framework. If the federal program were to be scrapped, these states would be left holding the bag, forced to spend taxpayer dollars to rebuild their own reporting systems from scratch. The resolution makes the case that keeping the program intact is the most efficient way to support scientific research, state governance, and a competitive, transparent market.