Introduced Version





HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No.
________




DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOLUTION



        A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council to assign the topic of global climate change to a study committee.



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    _______________________, read first time and referred to Committee on








Introduced

First Regular Session of the 116th General Assembly (2009)


HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION



        A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council to assign the topic of global climate change to a study committee.

    Whereas, That the Indiana General Assembly, regarding the need of the United States and the state of Indiana, urges the Legislative Council to address the problem of global climate change through the adoption of a fair and effective approach that safeguards American jobs, ensures affordable energy for citizens, and maintains America's global competitiveness;

    Whereas, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the National Academy of Sciences found that the continued buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere adversely affects the global climate;

    Whereas, The greenhouse gas emissions of developing countries are rising more rapidly than the emissions of the United States and have surpassed the greenhouse gas emissions of the United States and other developed countries;

    Whereas, Indiana accounts for only 0.69% of total global greenhouse gas emissions;

    Whereas, Any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must not eliminate American jobs and diminish the ability of American industry to compete in the global marketplace;

    Whereas, Any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must not add to the already high costs of power and

gasoline;

    Whereas, Any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must reward, not punish, early adopters of energy efficient technologies and practices;

    Whereas, Any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must adopt an international component to prevent emissions leakage and ensure that emissions do not simply migrate to another state or nation;

    Whereas, The only manner to quantify these emissions is through a domestic and international greenhouse gas emissions registry that is uniform, transparent, and verifiable;

    Whereas, Any system to regulate greenhouse gases must ensure that the adopted regimen does not result in moving international trade sensitive industries outside the United States;

    Whereas, Indiana has already lost 143,100 manufacturing jobs since 1998;

    Whereas, Manufacturing accounts for $67.2 billion of Indiana's Gross State Product and is the number one contributor to the state's economy;

    Whereas, Any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must ensure the availability of sufficient, affordable energy, including clean energy, before restricting emissions in a manner that could reduce the volume of energy available to consumers; and

    Whereas, Any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must provide credits or allowances to support operations, such as recycling, that reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives

of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana,

the Senate concurring:



    SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly urges the Legislative Council to assign to a study committee the topic of global climate change.
    SECTION 2. That the committee should include, but not be limited to, the following topics:
        (1) Promoting American jobs.
        (2) Protecting American citizens and industry from higher energy prices.
        (3) Rewarding early adopters of efficient practices and technologies.
        (4) Preventing emission leakage.
        (5) Championing the global competitiveness of American industry.