Clean Competition Act Would Protect Clean American Manufacturers

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA) introduced the Clean Competition Act of 2025. The bill would boost clean, American manufacturing and cut industrial pollution in the United States and abroad.

The bill would encourage American manufacturers to reduce emissions, and protect those that do, by placing a fee on the worst polluters in carbon-intensive sectors like fossil fuels, aluminum, steel, and cement. The fee, which would also apply to imports, ensures that global bad actors do not undercut innovative American producers that have invested in lowering pollution.

Revenue from the polluter fee would be reinvested into domestic industrial decarbonization projects so that companies with high-emitting facilities have the opportunity to upgrade and meet standards. Additional revenue would be set aside to support clean industry and the transition away from carbon-intensive manufacturing practices globally, which would ensure a level playing field for American manufacturers. Crucially, it would expand the global market for low-carbon goods made with processes successfully deployed in the United States and amongst trade partners.

As a result, the Clean Competition Act of 2025 clears a path to decarbonize US industry by 2050 and improves the marketability of US industry's products.

In response, Sierra Club Industrial Transformation Campaign Lead Harry Manin issued the following statement:

"The Trump administration only pays lip service to American manufacturing, while giving a pass to pollution-cheats and raising prices on consumers. The Clean Competition Act takes the opposite approach of Trump's handouts to polluters by rewarding companies who do the right thing and those who want to invest in innovation and promote health and efficiency. It seeks to level the global playing field by raising standards around the world, instead of exacerbating a race to the bottom that increases pollution and decreases wages. We are grateful for Sen. Whitehouse and Rep. DelBene's leadership and urge all champions of American manufacturing, clean air, and a livable climate to support the bill."

###

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.