Columbia Regional Business Report

Young Republicans and conservatives in South Carolina and across the country are growing increasingly concerned about the need to pass smart, commonsense solutions to address the climate crisis that poses a threat to our environment and our economy.

That’s why it’s heartening to see Senator Lindsey Graham and other prominent conservatives in the Senate backing legislation that would help America continue to lead on carbon reduction efforts while highlighting the benefits of our cleaner manufacturing practices and standards.

The Providing Reliable, Objective, Verifiable Emissions Intensity and Transparency (PROVE IT) Act would direct the Department of Energy to commission a study on the emissions produced by certain goods here in America, where we have the highest environmental standards in the world, compared to countries with looser or no such standards, like China.

The bipartisan PROVE IT Act will help provide solid data to illustrate just how much cleaner American manufacturing is compared to some of our global and economic rivals. It will not only help boost clean manufacturing domestically, but will also hopefully put pressure on other industrialized nations to step up their environmental standards in order to continue reducing emissions at the global level.

Ultimately, the PROVE IT Act is about showing how America is leading in the effort to slash carbon emissions while continuing to grow a vibrant, increasingly clean manufacturing sector. Hopefully more Republicans will follow Senator Graham’s lead and help pass this vital legislation without delay.