1. How much will President Obama's mandatory cap and trade program cost over the course of eight years, according to the White House?

2. How does this number differ from the amount first quoted by the Obama administration?

3. How much will the cap and trade cost Americans per year by 2015, according to a study of an earlier cap and trade bill co-sponsored by Mr. Obama when he was a senator?

4. If President Obama's cap and trade program becomes law, why will American jobs be driven overseas, according to Rep. John Boehner's spokesman?

5. A mandatory cap and trade program will make a big impact on your future. Consider the following:

• A recent poll by Rasmussen shows that less Americans believe global warming is man-made today than they did last year. (Read the article here.) 
• Global warming is the most important environmental issue of our time. If those who are sounding the alarm about a possible climate catastrophe are right, then governments must raise energy costs directly, with taxes, or indirectly, with mandates and subsidies, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hundreds of billions of dollars a year in wealth or economic activity will be sucked up and redistributed by governments.  Reducing greenhouse gas emissions even modestly is estimated to cost the average household in the U.S. approximately $3,372 per year and would destroy 2.4 million jobs. Electricity prices would double, and manufacturers would move their factories to places such as China and India that have cheaper energy and fewer environmental regulations.
  (from heartland.org)
• The cap and trade policy, based on a belief supported by less than half of all Americans, will cost American families a lot of money.

Read the "Background" and "Resources" below. Do you support a law that will require U.S. companies to implement a cap and trade program? Explain your answer. Ask a parent to read this article and the "Background" below and answer the same question.

OPTIONAL:  Send an email to your Senators and Representative expressing your opinion - do you want them to support or oppose a "cap and trade" bill?  Be clear, concise and polite.

• Find Senators' contact information at senate.gov on the top right corner of the homepage.
• Find Representatives' contact information at house.gov on the top center of the homepage.