Bill · H.R. 9975· House(119-HR-9975)
Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 7/27/2026
- Last activity
- 7/27/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Paul Tonko
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Energy to remove carbon dioxide directly from ambient air or seawater. The bill establishes a specific schedule of net metric tons of carbon dioxide to be removed each fiscal year, increasing over time. These removal requirements are subject to economic feasibility standards based on set price limits per metric ton. The Secretary is authorized to enter into contracts to meet these goals, with a specific set-aside for small removal projects. Additionally, the Act requires the establishment of standards for measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification of the removal process. Finally, the Secretary must conduct a study on how to scale these programs to a gigaton scale by 2050.
Yes· 3 of 12
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?+10
The bill establishes a mandatory schedule for removing millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air and seawater.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+6
The act mandates that at least 20 percent of carbon dioxide removal be handled by small removal projects where practicable.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+5
The bill requires projects to quantify and mitigate risks to the environment and includes standards for safe and effective removal.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Small Businesses: The bill mandates that, to the extent practicable, at least 20 percent of the required carbon dioxide removal be handled by small removal projects (Section 2(c)).
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Job Creation and Economic Diversity: The Secretary is directed to prioritize projects that may provide for domestic job creation, specifically favoring partnerships with labor organizations, small businesses, minority-sown businesses, and women-owned businesses (Section 2(g)(4)).
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Economic Development in Specific Regions: Priority may be given to projects that result in economic development or diversification in regions that have historically relied on the production, processing, or combustion of fossil fuels (Section 2(g)(6)).
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Community and Environmental Protections: The bill encourages projects that quantify and mitigate risks to nearby communities and residents while providing co-benefits such as improved local air, water, and soil quality (Section 2(g)(7)).
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Technological Innovation: The Act prioritizes the commercialization of innovative removal technologies that aim for long-term cost competitiveness (Section 2(g)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Liability for Carbon Leaks: Entities that enter into contracts for carbon dioxide removal are held liable to remove additional amounts of carbon dioxide if any is released from their storage locations (Section 2(h)(3)).
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Economic Feasibility Constraints: The requirement for the Secretary to remove carbon dioxide is subject to specific price caps per metric ton, which may limit the scale of removal if technologies cannot meet these declining price points (Section 2(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Reduces Carbon Emissions+10Improves Environmental Protections+5Improves Rural Development+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+5Good For Union Workers+5Good For Women+5Good For Hispanic Americans+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+6Increases Job Creation+5
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Opioid Crisis Response+1
- 7/27/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Scott PetersDemocrat · California