Coalition Letter on H.R. 5544, the "American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2019"

The Honorable Paul Tonko

Chairman

Subcommittee on the Environment

& Climate Change

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Tonko:

We are pleased that you and your colleagues introduced H.R. 5544, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Act of 2020, to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). There is broad support for such a measure across the business and environmental communities and bipartisan support in Congress.

Affordable replacements for HFCs already exist or are close to market. The approach outlined in H.R. 5544 would ensure that U.S. manufacturers remain global leaders and that our foreign competitors would be subject to the same rules as we transition out of HFCs.

Phasing out HFCs would directly add 33,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs over the next decade, as well as indirectly add 117,000 jobs on top of an already projected 47% baseline increase over that same period. Total industry output is projected to grow over 70% by 2027. This legislation would increase the U.S. share of the world market for heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment 25% over its current share.

Thank you for your leadership in addressing next generation refrigerant technologies. The National Association of Manufacturers (“NAM”) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce stand ready to help move this important bipartisan legislation through Congress and to the President’s desk.

Chuck Chaitovitz, the Chamber’s vice president for environmental affairs and sustainability, and Ross Eisenberg, NAM’s vice president of energy and resources policy, will follow up with your staff to answer any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Ross Eisenberg Chuck Chaitovitz

Vice President of Energy Vice President for Environmental Affairs

and Resources Policy and Sustainability

National Association of Manufacturers U.S. Chamber of Commerce

cc: Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce