Letter to Congressional Leadership

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer:

We write to you today to urge you to bring legislation that ends both direct and indirect federal fossil fuel subsidies, including provisions of the End Polluter Welfare Act, to a vote in Congress soon.

As you know, American taxpayers today pay $15 billion per year in direct federal subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. At the same time that these companies are raking in millions of taxpayer dollars, the 20 largest fossil fuel companies account for more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions in the modern era.

The End Polluter Welfare Act enjoys support in both the House and Senate and with the majority of the American people. It is also a critical step in fighting climate change, upholding environmental justice and protecting our planet.

We can not truly build back better until we end these subsidies to polluters. While our country is facing the triple threat of health, economic and climate crises, corporate handouts to the fossil fuel industry are not only wrong, they are dangerous.

• Ending direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies will include passing provisions in The End Polluter Welfare Act, a bill that:

• Repeals royalty relief for fossil fuel companies and increases the rate to 18 3/4 percent

• Terminates tax credits and deductions relating to fossil fuel activity, property, and research

• Repeals the $75 million limit on liability and holds parties accountable for the total damages

• Prohibits deductions for removal costs and damages from oil spills

• Increases the oil spill liability trust fund financing rate

• Terminates the federal Office of Fossil Energy Research and Development

• Prohibits the use of US dollars for international fossil fuel projects, transactions, or other activities that support fossil fuels

• Taxes foreign oil and gas extraction income at the regular rate

• Raises the tax rate on coal from underground from $1.10 to $1.38 and the rate of coal from surface mines from $0.55 to $0.69 - and makes this excise tax on coal permanent and ensures funding goes to the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund

• Requires a study and elimination of additional fossil fuel subsidies.

With less than ten years left to save the planet from further and escalating devastating impacts from climate change, now is not the time to be timid or take half measures. This moment demands bold action. These provisions are a vital step in that direction. It is for this reason that we hope you will bring legislation including these measures to the floor soon.

Sincerely,

National Democratic Party Organizations

DNC Council on Environment and Climate Crisis

College Democrats of America

Young Democrats of America

College Democrats of America Environmental Caucus

Young Democrats of America Environmental Caucus

Democrats Abroad Germany Climate Caucus

State and Local Democratic Party Organizations

Anishinaabek Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party

California Democratic Party Environmental Caucus

California Democratic Party Rural Caucus

Colorado Democratic Party Energy & Environment Initiative

Colorado Democratic Party Congressional District 4 Central Committee

Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida

Democratic Party of Oregon Environmental Caucus

Environment and Climate Caucus, Washington State Democrats

Fairfax Young Democrats (Virginia)

Faith Caucus of Virginia Young Democrats

Greening Georgia - Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Georgia

Minnesota DFL Environmental Caucus

South Carolina Democratic Party Environmental Caucus

Utah Democratic Party Environmental Caucus

Virginia Young Democrats

Virginia Young Democrats Environmental Caucus

Virginia Young Democrats Housing and Urban Affairs Caucus

Young Democrats of South Carolina Environmental Caucus

Alachua County Democratic Environmental Caucus (Florida)

Salt Lake County Democratic Environmental Caucus (Utah)