# Climate Resilience & Green Economy Act (CRGEA) **118th Congress, 2nd Session** **H.R. _____ / S. _____** --- **A BILL** To protect and strengthen environmental regulations, accelerate the transition to clean energy, prevent fossil fuel industry overreach, and build resilient communities in the face of climate change. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* ## Section 1. Short Title This Act may be cited as the "Climate Resilience & Green Economy Act" or "CRGEA". ## Section 2. Purpose To protect and strengthen environmental regulations, accelerate the transition to clean energy, prevent fossil fuel industry overreach, and build resilient communities in the face of climate change. ## Title I: Environmental Protection Agency Authority ### Section 101: EPA Enforcement Powers - Requires Congressional approval with a 60% majority for any reduction in EPA regulatory authority - Establishes minimum staffing levels for EPA enforcement divisions - Creates dedicated funding stream for EPA enforcement activities - Mandates annual public reporting on enforcement actions and outcomes ### Section 102: Air and Water Quality Standards - Requires science-based updates to air and water quality standards every 5 years - Establishes automatic inflation adjustment for environmental violation penalties - Creates criminal penalties for willful violation of environmental regulations - Requires consideration of cumulative pollution impacts on vulnerable communities ## Title II: Clean Energy Transition ### Section 201: Renewable Energy Investment - Establishes $500 billion Clean Energy Infrastructure Fund over 10 years - Provides tax credits for residential and commercial solar installation - Creates grants for community solar projects in low-income areas - Funds workforce training programs for clean energy jobs ### Section 202: Grid Modernization - Mandates upgrades to electrical grid for renewable integration - Establishes tiered clean energy targets: - 50% by 2030 - 70% by 2035 - 90% by 2040 - Provides funding for energy storage and smart grid technology - Creates incentives for distributed energy resources - Establishes hardship exemptions for rural utilities with compliance plans ## Title III: Fossil Fuel Regulation ### Section 301: Public Lands Protection - Requires Environmental Impact Statement for all new drilling permits - Mandates full cost bonding for well cleanup and restoration - Implements progressive carbon tax starting at $40 per ton - Creates transition assistance for fossil fuel workers ### Section 302: Emissions Reduction - Sets binding targets for greenhouse gas reductions - Requires methane capture for all oil and gas operations - Establishes penalties for excess emissions - Creates transparency requirements for corporate emissions reporting ## Title IV: Climate Resilience ### Section 401: Community Protection - Creates $100 billion Climate Resilience Fund for local governments - Requires climate risk assessment for federal infrastructure projects - Provides grants for flood protection and wildfire prevention - Establishes assistance program for climate refugees ### Section 402: Agricultural Adaptation - Funds research into drought-resistant crops - Creates incentives for regenerative farming practices - Provides assistance for farmers transitioning to sustainable methods - Establishes programs to reduce agricultural emissions ## Title V: Implementation and Oversight ### Section 501: Oversight and Accountability - Creates independent Climate Action Oversight Board - Requires annual progress reports to Congress - Establishes public dashboard for tracking implementation - Provides whistleblower protections for environmental violations ### Section 502: Funding Mechanisms - Establishes dedicated funding through carbon tax revenues - Creates Climate Action Trust Fund - Prevents reallocation of climate funds without Congressional approval - Requires cost-benefit analysis including climate impact ## Title VI: Enforcement and Dispute Resolution ### Section 601: Enforcement Authority - EPA shall have primary enforcement authority - State attorneys general may bring civil actions following EPA notification - Citizens may petition EPA for investigation and enforcement - Establishes Federal-State Environmental Coordination Council ### Section 602: Dispute Resolution - Creates mandatory mediation process for federal-state disputes - Establishes clear jurisdictional boundaries - Provides mechanism for resolving conflicting state and federal standards - Requires annual joint enforcement planning between EPA and states ### Section 603: Whistleblower Protection - Establishes Office of Environmental Whistleblower Protection - Provides administrative and legal remedies for retaliation - Creates sealed filing process for confidential complaints - Guarantees whistleblower anonymity with specified exceptions ## Definitions - "Clean energy" includes solar, wind, geothermal, and other zero-emission sources as certified by EPA - "Climate resilience" means the capacity to prepare for, adapt to, and recover from climate impacts - "Environmental justice community" means a community where either: - 40% or more of residents are low-income or minority populations - Environmental hazard exposure exceeds EPA regional averages by 25% or more - Historic patterns of environmental discrimination are documented - "Greenhouse gases" means carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride - "Regulatory fee" means charges imposed to offset environmental impacts and fund mitigation efforts - "Covered entity" means any corporation, LLC, partnership, or business trust that: - Emits over 25,000 metric tons of CO2e annually - Has annual revenues exceeding $5 million - Operates facilities requiring EPA permits ## Title VII: International Climate Coordination ### Section 701: Global Climate Finance 1. **International Climate Fund Contribution** - US contribution of $10 billion annually to international climate adaptation fund - Technology transfer programs for developing countries - Climate resilience capacity building initiatives - Emergency climate disaster response coordination 2. **Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms** - Tariffs on carbon-intensive imports from countries without equivalent climate policies - Revenue recycling to domestic clean energy and international climate finance - WTO-compliant implementation framework - Graduated implementation based on emissions intensity ### Section 702: Climate Migration Support 1. **Climate Refugee Legal Framework** - Recognition of climate displacement as grounds for protected status - Streamlined visa processes for climate migrants - Regional cooperation agreements for climate migration - Integration support programs for climate refugees 2. **International Climate Displacement Cooperation** - Bilateral agreements with vulnerable nations - Pre-disaster relocation planning and support - Capacity building for climate adaptation in origin countries - International coordination on climate migration policies ### Section 703: Enhanced Community Protection 1. **Environmental Justice Priority** - Minimum 50% of climate funds directed to disadvantaged communities - Community-led adaptation project prioritization - Cumulative health impact assessments for all climate policies - Anti-displacement protections for vulnerable communities 2. **Frontline Community Resilience** - Dedicated funding for Indigenous climate adaptation - Traditional ecological knowledge integration in climate planning - Community-controlled renewable energy development - Cultural preservation support during climate transitions ### Section 704: International Technology Cooperation 1. **Clean Technology Transfer** - Open-source clean technology development programs - International research and development partnerships - Technology patent sharing for climate solutions - Capacity building for clean technology deployment 2. **Global Climate Innovation** - International clean energy research collaborations - Joint development of climate adaptation technologies - Shared early warning systems for climate disasters - Coordinated standards for clean technology interoperability This Act shall take effect 180 days after enactment.