Reduce emissions, not choices

OPINION:

As we face the challenges of reducing global emissions, many House Republicans are not sitting on the sidelines, as Democrats might want you to think. Now more than ever, we need pragmatic solutions to pave the way to a cleaner, healthier planet for our children and grandchildren. Republicans have been actively working on legislation that both reduces emissions, generates abundant and affordable energy, and protects the American people from overreaching federal mandates.

This month, I was named the next Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus. The Caucus was founded in 2021 by Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, with the goal of finding solutions that are both practical and consistent with conservative values. Within three years, the Caucus has grown to 85 House Republicans members and counting.

As I step into my role as chair, my focus and the focus of this Caucus is clear: to champion conservative solutions that reduce emissions without hindering our economic growth to the benefit of our adversaries. Despite what many on the far left are spouting, economic growth and emissions reduction need not be mutually exclusive. In fact, the private sector not unelected government bureaucrats will drive most of the innovation and investment to develop cleaner energy sources that benefit both our environment and our economy.

Meanwhile, radical environmentalists and Democrats love to point fingers and talk about the problem, but avoid practical solutions.

For example, the Green New Deal falls massively short in offering reasonable solutions to address our increasing energy demand with affordable, abundant, and reliable energy sources. These far-left policies lead to brownouts and sky-high energy prices, an effect we’ve seen play out in Germany the past two years. The Green New Deal also fails to acknowledge China’s role as the primary challenge to global emissions reduction while Beijing benefits from those same green energy credits.

But America is making great progress. In 2023 alone, the United States cut emissions by 3%, outpacing many other nations including China. Our efforts in oil and gas production have also set global standards for cleanliness, demonstrating our commitment to responsible environmental stewardship while ensuring energy security. Additionally, the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) are approximately 40% lower than the gas supplied by Russia, the second largest exporter of LNG.

The Conservative Climate Caucus will vehemently oppose efforts to deny Americans choice, which would lead to energy poverty, undue hardships on families and the inability of American businesses to compete globally.

For example, the Biden Administration recently announced it would pause LNG exports, ceding our energy leadership to Russia, China and Iran with dirtier oil and natural gas.

Furthermore, the Biden Administration’s recent tailpipe emissions regulation mandates that two-thirds of all new vehicles be electric by 2032. This mandate will hurt Iowa and the U.S., while benefitting the Chinese Communist Party. China is inundating the globe with its auto exports and Beijing has prioritized electric vehicles. While these Chinese EVs have not infiltrated our economy yet, we cannot be blind to China’s dominance over EVs and batteries, suppling 80% of the world’s battery cells and accounting for nearly 60% of the EV battery market. Americans should have the choice to buy an electric or gas-powered vehicle while still protecting our national security interests.

In our fight for a cleaner, healthier planet, House Republicans will continue leading the charge with bottom-up policies in which economic prosperity and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.

The goal is to reduce emissions, not choices.

• Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D., represents Iowa’s First Congressional District. Recently named chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, she also sits on the House Energy and Commerce and Veterans Affairs Committees. Miller-Meeks is a 24-year Army veteran and an ophthalmologist who was named the first female president of the Iowa Medical Society. She previously served in the Iowa State Senate.