Six proposals to put a price on carbon were introduced in the 113th Congress (2013-2014). Five would establish a carbon tax (also called a “carbon pollution fee”) and one would establish a cap-and-dividend program (a cap-and-trade program that would rebate program revenues to consumers).

This brief compares the proposals by key attributes, highlighting similarities and differences. The proposals are:

• The Climate Protection Act of 2013 (S.332) introduced by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on February 14, 2013;
• The Managed Carbon Price Act, 2014 (H.R.4754) introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) on May 28, 2014;
• The Healthy Climate and Family Security Act of 2014 (H.R.5271) introduced by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) on July 30, 2014; and America’s Energy Security Trust Fund Act of 2014 (H.R.5307) introduced by Rep. John Larson (D-CT) on July 31, 2014;
• The American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act (S.2940), introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) on November 19, 2014; and
• The State Choices Act introduced (H.R.5796) by Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) on December 4, 2014.