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DeGette statement on House passage of Inflation Reduction Act

August 12, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following is a statement from U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) on the House voting today to approve the Inflation Reduction Act, a sweeping, historic piece of legislation aimed at lowering Americans’ health care and energy costs while making new investments to combat the climate crisis:

“While it’s not everything we wanted, this legislation is a game changer that will provide real relief to millions of families across the country and gives us the tools we need to drastically reduce our emissions to help combat the climate crisis.

“This historic legislation will lower health care and energy costs that are straining Americans’ budgets, and it will be the largest investment the federal government has ever made to take on the climate crisis. It will ensure that no senior ever has to pay more than $2,000 a year for their prescription medications, caps the cost of insulin at $35 a month for those on Medicare, and puts us on a path to reduce our nation’s carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030.

“This is a big, big win for our country and the best part is it’s fully paid for by simply closing tax loopholes to ensure the largest corporations and wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.”

The legislation, which is now headed to the president’s desk to be signed into law, includes several provisions DeGette championed, including:

  • Requiring oil and gas companies to reduce the amount of methane they release into the atmosphere;
  • Providing funding to drive the innovation of a wide range of promising new clean-energy technologies to help them reach the point of commercial availability faster;
  • Providing funding for the rapid deployment of new clean-energy technologies; and
  • Increasing funding to help homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their homes.