119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 5489

Future Generations Protection Act

Introduced

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

The Future Generations Protection Act aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by prohibiting new electric utility steam generating units from emitting any quantity of greenhouse gases. It establishes a framework for transitioning away from fossil fuels and prioritizes environmental justice and a fair transition for workers. The bill also includes provisions to prohibit hydraulic fracturing and crude oil and natural gas exports, with specific exceptions for certain trade scenarios.

Key provisions

Prohibits the emission of any greenhouse gas from new electric utility steam generating units.
Defines ‘greenhouse gas’ for the purposes of the Clean Air Act.
Prohibits hydraulic fracturing on onshore and offshore federal lands.
Prohibits the export of domestically produced crude oil and natural gas.
Establishes a process for approving limited crude oil exports for specific exchanges and trade relations.
Requires a transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
Prioritizes racial and gender equity, environmental justice, and worker training during the energy transition.
Addresses the siting, construction, and operation of LNG terminals.

Who is affected

Electric utility companies
Energy workers
Environmental justice communities
Oil and gas industry
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Notable changes

Adds a new section to the Clean Air Act prohibiting greenhouse gas emissions from new electric utility steam generating units.

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

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Legislative history

2025-09-18House

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

2025-09-18House

2025-09-18

Introduced in House

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Sep 18, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 5489

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the emission of any greenhouse gas in any quantity from any new electric utility steam generating unit, and for other purposes.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Future Generations Protection Act

2.Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)The use of fossil fuels exacerbates the climate crisis, threatens America’s natural resources, and disproportionately damages frontline environmental justice communities.

(2)

In order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, the Federal Government should transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

(3)

In achieving its energy goals, it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure a fair and just transition for workers and frontline communities.

(4)

The Federal Government should do this by prioritizing racial and gender equity, environmental justice, and partnering with labor unions to ensure that workers have training for and access to clean-energy jobs.

3.Emissions of greenhouse gases

(a)Prohibition against the emission of greenhouse gases from new electric utility steam generating units

The Clean Air Act is amended by inserting after section 111 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 7411) the following new section:

111A.Prohibition against the emission of greenhouse gases from electric utility steam generating units

(a)ProhibitionBeginning on the date of enactment of this section, the emission of a greenhouse gas in any quantity from a new electric utility steam generating unit shall be treated as a violation of a standard or limitation under section 111.

(b)Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term electric utility steam generating unit has the meaning given to that term in section 112(a).

(2)The term greenhouse gas means—

(A)

carbon dioxide;

(B)

methane;

(C)

nitrous oxide;

(D)

hydrofluorocarbons;

(E)

perfluorocarbons;

(F)

sulfur hexafluoride; or

(G)

any other anthropogenically emitted gas that is determined by the Administrator, by regulation, to contribute to global warming to a non-negligible degree.

(3)The term new electric utility steam generating unit means an electric utility steam generating unit that commences operations or otherwise becomes a new source (as defined in section 111(a)) on or after the date of enactment of this section.

(b)Prohibition

(1)ProhibitionNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may not—

(A)approve an application for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of an LNG terminal under section 3(e) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b); or

(B)issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f).

(2)Exception

(A)In generalParagraph (1) shall not apply with respect to an application or certificate that, if approved or issued, will result in a reduction in emissions of any greenhouse gas at the LNG terminal, as determined by the Commission.

(B)Definition

In this section, the term greenhouse gas means—

(i)carbon dioxide;

(ii)

methane;

(iii)

nitrous oxide;

(iv)

hydrofluorocarbons;

(v)

perfluorocarbons;

(vi)

sulfur hexafluoride; or

(vii)

any other anthropogenically emitted gas that is determined by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, by regulation, to contribute to global warming to a non-negligible degree.

4.Prohibiting hydraulic fracturing

(a)ProhibitionHydraulic fracturing is prohibited on all onshore and offshore land within the jurisdiction of the United States.

(b)Definition

In this section, the term hydraulic fracturing means an operation conducted in an individual wellbore designed to increase the flow of hydrocarbons from a rock formation to the wellbore through modifying the permeability of reservoir rock by fracturing it, except that such term does not include enhanced secondary recovery, including water flooding, tertiary recovery, and other types of well stimulation operations.

(c)Effective dateThis section shall take effect on January 1, 2029.

5.Ban on crude oil and natural gas exports

(a)In general

Section 101 of title I of division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (42 U.S.C. 6212a) is amended to read as follows:

101.Prohibition on exports of crude oil and natural gas

Except as provided in this section, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, exports of domestically produced crude oil and natural gas, including liquefied natural gas and natural gas liquids, are prohibited. The Secretary of Commerce may, with the approval of the President, approve the export of crude oil for—

(1)

exchanges in similar quantity for convenience or increased efficiency of transportation with persons or the government of a foreign state;

(2)

temporary exports for convenience or increased efficiency of transportation across parts of an adjacent foreign state which exports reenter the United States; and

(3)

the historical trading relations of the United States with Canada and Mexico.

(b)Repeal relating to exportation of natural gas

Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

by striking export any natural gas from the United States to a foreign country or; and

(B)

by striking exportation or; and

(2)

by striking subsection (c).

HR 5489

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

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Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Positions across the country

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Bill text

Positions across the country