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Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
July 14, 2009
(202) 225-3761

Upton Seeks "Job Tracker" for Climate Bill
Upton amendment to Energy and Water spending bill will require Energy Dept. to detail number of jobs lost or created every six months as a result of cap-and-trade bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), ranking Republican of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, is seeking to require the Department of Energy to regularly report the number of jobs lost or created by the House-passed cap-and-trade bill (H.R. 2454), should the legislation be enacted.  Upton’s amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act would also require the Secretary of Energy to classify whether the jobs created or lost were permanent or temporary as well as identify sectors of the job market that have experienced a growth or decline in employment as a result.  Upton’s amendment is expected to be considered by the House Rules Committee this evening.

“With the national unemployment rate hovering just below double digits, the American public has a right to know the full impact that cap-and-tax has on jobs,” said Upton.  “While the job creation claims made by the proponents of cap-and-tax run contrary to the numerous studies that forecast massive job losses, this amendment cuts through the fray, providing the public hard data of how many jobs are actually created or lost as a direct result of the bill.  Our effort to provide the public with access to a running jobs tally appropriately complements the Administration’s call for an era of greater transparency, and I urge Speaker Pelosi to allow our amendment the consideration that it deserves.” 

PDF of Upton’s amendment

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