Blumenauer Continues Climate Leadership, Secures Historic Climate Investments in Build Back Better Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) issued the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, legislation that will cut pollution and speed up the transition away from fossil fuels, all while lowering health, child, and family care costs and creating jobs:

"Today's vote will go down in history as one of the most transformative steps Congress has ever taken to tackle our climate crisis, create family-wage jobs, and lower health, child, and family care costs for our families. Those steps will translate into big wins for Oregonians, our environment, and our economy as we keep fighting to create the kind of future our children deserve."

Blumenauer's statement follows his return from the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, and the release of his groundbreaking report and legislative agenda to address the growing impact of climate disasters like wildfires, floods, droughts, and heat waves.

In continuation of his climate leadership, Blumenauer used his seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee to secure various key climate provisions in the Build Back Better Act to:

• Reinstate the polluter pays crude oil and imported petroleum tax that funded Superfund cleanup projects until funding dried up in 2004. 
• Reinstate the bicycle commuter tax benefit and increasing the value of the benefit to 30% of the parking benefit, which is currently $81 per month.
• Create a 30% refundable credit for the purchase of an electric bicycle.  Individuals making less than $75,000 for single tax filers, and $150,000 for married couples, would be eligible for a 30% tax credit for the purchase of an electric bike.
• Expand and improve tax incentives for renewable energy, like wind and solar, for a decade, helping Americans save on long-term energy expenses by overcoming the upfront costs of transitioning away from fossil fuels.
• Expand the existing electric vehicle charging station credit to also cover charging stations for two- and three-wheeled modes of transportation, including electric bicycles and scooters.
• Extend the small wind investment tax credit at full value for 10 years and increasing the size of eligible projects, to make it easier for businesses to finance small wind energy systems to shrink their carbon footprints.
• Expand the Investment Tax Credit to include energy storage technologies, including batteries, pumped hydropower, fuel cells, and more.
• Strengthen incentives for energy-efficient upgrades in commercial buildings, with the highest tax deductions going to projects that meet prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship requirements, to encourage the creation of reliable, good-paying jobs.