Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026
Latest action (27 Jul 2026): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 9975, the Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026, would require the Secretary of Energy to remove carbon dioxide directly from the air or seawater in escalating amounts, starting at 50,000 metric tons annually in fiscal years 2026-2027 and rising to 10 million metric tons per year by 2036 and beyond. These removal requirements apply only "to the extent economically feasible," with maximum allowable per-ton prices that decline over time (from $750 to $150 per ton). At least 20 percent of removals through 2035 must come from small projects. The Secretary would set measurement and verification standards, prioritize projects based on factors like community benefits, job creation, and cost-effectiveness, and could award competitively bid contracts of up to 15 years to private entities, with no single entity generally handling more than 25 percent of any year's target.
The bill primarily affects the Department of Energy, companies and technologies involved in carbon removal, and communities near removal projects, who would benefit from prioritized consideration of environmental and economic impacts. It also requires biennial public reports to Congress on progress, costs, technologies used, and community effects, plus a one-time study on options for scaling federal carbon removal to a gigaton level by 2050.
The bill was introduced on July 27, 2026, by Rep. Paul Tonko and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It has not yet been voted on, and would need committee action, House and Senate passage, and the President's signature to become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on July 27, 2026. It will typically be considered by committee next before it is possibly sent on to the House or Senate as a whole.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 9975 do?
- H.R. 9975, the Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026, would require the Secretary of Energy to remove carbon dioxide directly from the air or seawater in escalating amounts, starting at 50,000 metric tons annually in fiscal years 2026-2027 and rising to 10 million metric tons per year by 2036 and beyond. These removal requirements apply only "to the extent economically feasible," with maximum allowable per-ton prices that decline over time (from $750 to $150 per ton). At least 20 percent of removals through 2035 must come from small projects. The Secretary would set measurement and verification standards, prioritize projects based on factors like community benefits, job creation, and cost-effectiveness, and could award competitively bid contracts of up to 15 years to private entities, with no single entity generally handling more than 25 percent of any year's target. The bill primarily affects the Department of Energy, companies and technologies involved in carbon removal, and communities near removal projects, who would benefit from prioritized consideration of environmental and economic impacts. It also requires biennial public reports to Congress on progress, costs, technologies used, and community effects, plus a one-time study on options for scaling federal carbon removal to a gigaton level by 2050. The bill was introduced on July 27, 2026, by Rep. Paul Tonko and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It has not yet been voted on, and would need committee action, House and Senate passage, and the President's signature to become law.
- Has H.R. 9975 become law?
- Not yet. As of 27 Jul 2026, H.R. 9975 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 9975?
- H.R. 9975 was sponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko [D-NY20] (Democrat-NY), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 9975?
- Introduced (27 Jul 2026).
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