WASHINGTON — Both of Hawai'i's House lawmakers helped their fellow Democrats pass a sweeping climate change bill last week that would limit pollution blamed for global warming.

If ultimately enacted, the bill would touch virtually all consumers one way or another, if only through the price of energy.

The House legislation would limit the pollution blamed for global warming with, among other measures, a market-based system for trading pollution allowances, called cap and trade.

The bill, a top priority for President Obama, passed 219-212.

Earlier in the week, Obama called Rep. Neil Abercrombie to make sure he was on board. While the Hawai'i Democrat backs the legislation, he said it's just a start, and he called for continued emphasis on energy independence, especially through fuels made with waste from agriculture, industry, mining, transportation, construction and deforestation.

"I've made my position very clear," Abercrombie said Friday. "Energy independence is life and death for Hawai'i's economic future and for United States' national security interests. The bill is not perfect, but it does begin to move the country toward a clean, green economy."

Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono applauded the legislation as long-overdue relief for consumers, even though it could cost them in the short term.

"The nation has made little progress in the last eight years in improving energy efficiency and controlling energy prices," Hirono said. "These price increases have impacted American families to the tune of thousands of dollars per year in higher energy costs. This legislation provides direct relief to consumers and businesses to mitigate these costs."

The Senate is expected to take up energy and climate legislation in the summer.

Republican opponents of the legislation argue it would drive up electricity and gasoline prices. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill could cost the average household about $175 annually by 2020; some Republicans say more.

"This bill is a jobs killer," said Rep. Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. "This will have real effects for real people."

The bill calls for: