STATEMENT: KHANNA CELEBRATES HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment and Deputy Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, celebrated the House passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Leading up to the bill's passage, Khanna worked closely with Senator Manchin and environmental groups for over a year to negotiate a deal. The bill will invest $369 billion dollars in electric vehicles and clean energy tax credits and has the potential to unlock trillions of dollars in private sector investment in climate. In addition to the climate provisions, the Inflation Reduction Act will allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices to help millions of Americans access the care they need.
"The Inflation Reduction Act will create good clean energy jobs, lower drug prices, and help us ward off the worst threats posed by the climate crisis. It is a down payment on the renewable energy moonshot we need and I'm proud to have been part of negotiations leading to this deal.
"I am supporting this bill despite opposing some of the language in it. I fought hard against the provisions to mandate fossil fuel leasing on public lands and tax credits for enhanced oil recovery. I have also been vocal about concerns that this bill does not adequately protect low-income communities and communities of color who are hurt most by the climate crisis.
"This is a historic bill, our country's biggest investment in climate ever, but it's still just the beginning. We need a new era of climate action, one that values people over profits, lifts the voices of regular people, and brings Americans together again through a shared purpose. Protecting our planet should come down to patriotism, not politics."
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About the Office
Congressman Khanna represents the 17th District of California, which covers communities in Silicon Valley. Visit his website at khanna.house.gov. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RepRoKhanna.