mutual-flourishing/ADPA/bills/CRGEA.md

Climate Resilience & Green Economy Act (CRGEA)

118th Congress, 2nd Session
H.R. _____ / S. _____

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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.