Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has called for new legislation to address pollution from China, advocating for the Foreign Pollution Fee Act (FPFA) in an op-ed published in The Washington Times. Cassidy's proposal aims to counteract China's economic and military growth, which he argues has come at the expense of the United States.

"For years, China has strengthened its economy, military, and geopolitical influence at the expense of the U.S. This must stop. It is time to hold communist China accountable with comprehensive legislation that addresses economic development, national security, and the environment. The Foreign Pollution Fee Act (FPFA) is the path forward," wrote Dr. Cassidy.

Cassidy highlights that China's lack of enforcement on environmental standards gives it an unfair trade advantage over American companies. He cites a study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicating that up to a quarter of sulfate pollution in the western U.S. originates from Chinese emissions.

"It makes absolutely no sense to continue allowing China and other countries to pollute freely and weaken the U.S. economically, and relatively speaking, militarily. We must turn the tables to make China pay instead of making the American people pay. The FPFA does this," concluded Dr. Cassidy.

The FPFA seeks to impose fees on products from high-polluting countries like China, aiming to equalize manufacturing costs between these countries and the U.S., potentially encouraging job re-shoring.

Cassidy plans to further discuss these issues at an upcoming summit titled "Louisiana Energy Security Summit: Unleashing American Abundance in a Changing Global Landscape" in Baton Rouge on October 16, 2024.

Cassidy frequently addresses geopolitical challenges faced by U.S. manufacturers due to lax environmental standards abroad and advocates for integrating national, economic, and energy security into U.S. foreign policy.

Earlier this month, Cassidy released an episode of "Bill on the Hill" discussing his Foreign Pollution Fee Act and China's impact on American workers' economic security.

He also co-authored editorials with State Senator Caleb Kleinpeter and State Representative Blake Miguez discussing threats posed by China to U.S. global standing and appeared on Newsmax with Greta Van Susteren to discuss his foreign pollution fee initiative.

In addition to promoting his FPFA, Cassidy has opposed domestic carbon taxes and introduced judicial reforms aimed at reducing permitting delays for energy projects.