H.R. ___, a bill to require the payment of a fee for emissions of carbon pollution

On March 12, 2013, Reps. Waxman and Blumenauer and Sens. Whitehouse and Schatz released a discussion draft of a bill that would establish the polluter pays principle for dangerous carbon pollution, requiring large emitters to pay for the pollution they emit. 

The legislation assigns responsibility for the assessment and collection of the carbon fees based upon the expertise that has already been developed by EPA and the Treasury Department.  Under the discussion draft, EPA’s database of reported emissions would determine the amount of pollution subject to the fee.  The Treasury Department would be responsible for the collection and handling of the fees.