End Polluter Welfare

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End Polluter Welfare

United States Congress

Corporate polluters receive $15 billion+ in direct federal subsidies each year so they can continue to poison our communities and threaten the future of people and planet. Our taxpayer dollars are supporting the climate crisis and allowing fossil fuel billionaires to line their pockets. This must end.

President Biden supports ending fossil fuel subsidies. On the campaign trail, he said, “I don’t think big oil companies need a handout from the federal government. We are going to get rid of...fossil fuel subsidies and invest in clean energy.” But we need Congress to act too.

Eliminating polluter welfare is the scientifically and morally right thing to do - and it is widely popular with the American people.

We call on Congress to put an end to governmental funding of fossil fuels. There is no time to waste and our commitment cannot flag. This is a crucial part of any environmental legislation. Without action, fossil fuel executives will only continue to profit from the destruction of our planet and the pollution of our communities.

Sponsored by

DNC Council on Environment and Climate Crisis

To: United States Congress
From: [Your Name]

Members of Congress,

We ask that you commit to act to end fossil fuel subsidies, which fund the pollution of our communities and our planet. President Biden has repeatedly voiced his commitment to putting an end to corporate welfare for polluters. This must be a key component of any comprehensive environmental bill that Congress sends to President Biden’s desk.

As you know, American taxpayers today pay over $20 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, and price gouging at the pump, the 20 largest fossil fuel companies account for more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions in the modern era.

Meaningful action to end federal funding for corporate polluters means passing legislation with at least the following elements:
- Elimination all direct federal subsidies to fossil fuel companies
- Elimination of indirect subsidies that result from allowing fossil fuel corporations to avoid paying the true cost of pollution, health risks, and other externalities
- An end to all new oil, gas, and coal leasing on public lands
- Repeal of the $75 million limit on liability and holding parties accountable for the total damages
- Termination of the federal Office of Fossil Energy Research and Development
- Prohibition of the use of US dollars for international fossil fuel projects, transactions, or other activities that support fossil fuels

Ending fossil fuel subsidies is not just the morally and scientifically sound move- it’s also strongly supported by the American public. Now is not the time to be timid or take half measures. We hope Congress will take action to end polluter welfare immediately.