# Climate Bill Will Not Harm Working-Class Families

*Published:* 2009-06-25
*Author:* Heather Shelby

In a June 24 letter, the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) claims that the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) would harm poor and working-class families.

CORE, which has reportedly received [funding from ExxonMobil](http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=111), cites no basis for its extreme assertions, and completely ignores the objective analyses of ACES showing that the bill would **benefit** low-income consumers and populations:

1. Analysis of ACES by the [Congressional Budget Office](http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/103xx/doc10327/06-19-CapAndTradeCosts.pdf) shows that “**households in the lowest income quintile would see an average net benefit of about $40** in 2020″ under ACES.
2. As CBO explicitly notes, **that figure “does not include the economic benefits and other benefits of the reduction in GHG \[greenhouse gas\] emissions** and the associated slowing of climate change.” According to the [Congressional Black Caucus Foundation](http://www.rprogress.org/publications/2004/CBCF_REPORT_execsum.pdf#search=%22unequal), “**the African American community will disproportionately benefit from climate policies that slow climate change**,” in part because “African Americans are already disproportionately burdened by the health effects of climate change, including deaths during heat waves and from worsened air pollution.”
3. The [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities](http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2848), one of the nation’s premier policy organizations working on public policies that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals, just released a new report, “***New EPA and CBO Estimates Refute Claims That House Climate Bill Would Impose Large Costs on Households and the Economy.”***  The name says it all.