# Plain Language Summary: MARKET CHOICE Act

This bill creates a new tax on greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2027, beginning at $40 per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent and increasing by 5% annually plus inflation adjustments. The tax applies to fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—at the point they're produced or imported into the United States. So when a coal mine extracts coal, when an oil refinery produces gasoline, or when natural gas exits a processing plant, that's when the tax gets paid. The bill also taxes emissions from certain industrial processes and product uses that release greenhouse gases. The money collected goes into a new "RISE Trust Fund" dedicated to infrastructure projects, climate adaptation, and helping workers displaced by energy industry changes.

At the same time, the bill eliminates existing federal taxes on motor vehicle fuel and aviation fuel, which currently fund highway and airport maintenance. This is a significant trade-off: you'd lose the old fuel taxes but gain a new emissions-based tax system. The bill includes some relief mechanisms—manufacturers can get refunds if they transform fossil fuels into products that eliminate emissions, and companies that capture and permanently store carbon dioxide can get tax refunds too. The tax rate can also increase by an additional $4 per ton if emissions exceed certain targets, creating an incentive to reduce pollution.

The bill establishes a National Climate Commission to oversee implementation and creates programs to help coal miners, oil workers, and others in fossil fuel industries transition to new jobs. It also modifies environmental regulations and allows states to set their own emissions policies without federal preemption. The practical effect is that energy prices would likely increase—gasoline, heating oil, natural gas, and electricity would all cost more—but the revenue would fund infrastructure repairs, climate resilience projects like flood protection, and worker retraining programs. Lower-income households would feel this impact most acutely through higher utility and fuel bills, though the bill doesn't explicitly include rebates or assistance programs for consumers.