S. 2905 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2905 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 18, 2014 Mr. Sanders introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget A BILL To require the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to calculate a carbon score for each bill or resolution. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Carbon Pollution Transparency Act of 2014. 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Carbon score The term carbon score means the projected net greenhouse gas emissions that would result— (A) from the enactment and implementation of a bill or resolution; and (B) if the amounts authorized to be appropriated, or otherwise made available, in the bill or resolution were fully appropriated. (2) Director The term Director means the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. (3) Greenhouse gas The term greenhouse gas has the meaning given the term in section 211(o)(1) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(1)). (4) Net greenhouse gas emissions The term net greenhouse gas emissions means the net quantity of all greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, including emissions by sources and removals by sinks, where the total quantity of emissions for each gas is expressed as a carbon dioxide equivalent. 3. Carbon score (a) In general In carrying out section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 653), the Director shall include in the analysis submitted to the appropriate committee of Congress the carbon score of each public bill or resolution. (b) Net greenhouse gas emissions baseline In calculating the carbon score under subsection (a), the Director shall base any calculation of the increase or decrease of the level of greenhouse gas emissions on a comparison with the level of greenhouse gas emissions occurring under current law. (c) Scope of calculated emissions In calculating the carbon score under subsection (a), the Director shall consider all likely changes in net greenhouse gas emissions, including— (1) any changes to net greenhouse gas emissions that would directly result from activities required to carry out the bill or resolution; and (2) any changes to net greenhouse gas emissions that would— (A) indirectly result from activities required to carry out the bill or resolution; and (B) not otherwise have occurred. (d) Established best practices In calculating the carbon score under subsection (a), the Director shall, to the maximum extent practicable, use established best practices for estimating emissions, such as— (1) lifecycle analysis; and (2) internationally recognized methodologies (such as guidelines from the International Panel on Climate Change). (e) Timeline The Director shall calculate the carbon score under subsection (a) on the same timeline as the Director carries out the analysis under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 653). 4. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director such sums as are necessary to develop the expertise and capacity required to carry out the analyses required under section 3.