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Western Caucus Members Applaud EPA Action to Repeal Obama Administration’s Job-Killing ‘Clean Power Plan’
Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul A. Gosar D.D.S. (AZ-04), House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01), Western Caucus Executive Vice-Chairman Scott Tipton (CO-03), Chairman Emeritus Steve Pearce (NM-02), House Science, Space and Technology Chairman Lamar Smith (TX-21), and Western Caucus members Adrian Smith (NE-02), Liz Cheney (WY-At Large), Greg Gianforte (MT-At Large), Brian Babin (TX-36), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Trent Franks (AZ-08), Mike Johnson (LA-04), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Jody Hice (GA-10), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Kevin Cramer (ND-At Large), and Tom Emmer (MN-06) released the following statements after EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt provided notice of proposed rulemaking which will effectively cancel the Obama Administration’s ‘Clean Power Plan’:
“Not long after President Obama took office, he tried to pass legislation through Congress that would have given the EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade program. Despite 60 Democrats holding office in the Senate at the time, the Senate decisively rejected the cap-and-tax plans proposed by the president,” said Chairman Gosar. “Rather than pursuing a true all-of-the-above energy plan that lowered costs for consumers and put us on the path towards energy independence, the Obama Administration continued to churn out new regulations and distort others as the means to accomplish the president’s ideological agenda. The so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ was no exception. It picked winners and losers at the expense of American job creators. I applaud Administrator Pruitt and the Trump Administration for acting to roll back this unconstitutional and fundamentally-flawed Obama mandate.”
Majority Whip Scalise stated, "Just like so many of the Obama administration's radical regulations, the Clean Power Plan rule was a Washington power grab that killed jobs and imposed higher costs on American families. I applaud the Trump administration's decision to reverse this misguided rule so hard-working families get some financial relief and American energy producers once again have the ability to grow and create more jobs, putting our nation on the path to energy dominance while providing affordable energy prices for all Americans.”
Congressman Tipton said, “I am a strong proponent of a responsible all-of-the-above domestic energy strategy that includes emerging technologies, renewables and traditional resources to produce affordable and reliable electricity for all Americans. The federal government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers, however, and that is exactly what the previous administration did with this overreaching rule. The administration’s roll back of this flawed rule will protect jobs in rural communities and Americans who are already struggling to make ends meet from a punitive spike in their energy bills.”
“New Mexicans deserve reliable and affordable energy without job-killing restrictions that cripple economic opportunity in our state and across the nation. By cutting government red tape and eliminating unnecessary regulations like the Clean Power Plan, we can gain momentum towards an ‘all the above’ energy plan that creates jobs and sustains low energy prices for all Americans. This action by the EPA today will return power back to the states where it belongs, so economies, like ours in New Mexico, can become stronger and more competitive. It is my hope that New Mexico can have the opportunity to become a greater leader in our domestic energy development and production,” said Congressman Pearce.
“Today's repeal of the so-called Clean Power Plan marks the next crucial step in a new era of transparency based on sound science,” said Congressman Lamar Smith. Through several hearings and oversight of the former administration's overregulation, the Science Committee revealed the faulty, one-sided calculations that the Obama administration employed to justify its Clean Power Plan. We have repeatedly found that the costs imposed on the American people vastly outweigh the rule’s marginal benefits. President Trump and Administrator Pruitt have reviewed the data and chosen to unburden our citizens rather than perpetuate a politically motivated rule that would result in minimal environmental benefits. Our nation can now move forward and develop smart, transparent policies that carry out President Trump’s America First energy strategy and relieve the American people of undue burdens.”
Congressman Adrian Smith stated, “President Obama’s ‘Clean Power Plan’ threatened to force hundreds of coal-fired power plants to shut their doors, driving up energy costs across America. Those hurt the most by these misguided, job-killing policies are typically the ones who can afford it least. I was pleased to see President Trump issue an executive order earlier this year requiring the EPA to re-evaluate these regulations, and by signing this proposed repeal, Administrator Pruitt is following through on his commitment to rein in the EPA’s red tape factory and empowering states to pursue responsible energy development.”
"EPA Administrator Pruitt's decision to repeal the Obama Administration's disastrous “clean power plan” is an important and necessary step towards reversing the harmful Obama-era policies that strangled our economy. Wyoming's communities and fossil fuel industry were hit the hardest by Obama's anti-coal agenda for the past eight years. For too long the clean power plan killed jobs and needlessly wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in an unsuccessful attempt to increase renewable energy and decrease fossil fuels," said Congresswoman Cheney.
Congressman Gianforte stated, “The previous administration’s top-down, Washington-centered approach out of the EPA imposed a heavy burden on hardworking Montana families. Its relentless federal overreach threatened our livelihood and our way of life. Today, Montanans welcome much needed regulatory relief with Administrator Pruitt’s announcement that the war on coal is over.”
“I applaud President Trump’s decision to restore common sense at the EPA and put America’s citizens and jobs first. This Obama-era policy would have taken money from the pockets of American workers, unnecessarily harmed seniors and those living on fixed incomes and put American workers at a competitive disadvantage – all for little to no benefit to the environment,” said Congressman Babin.
“After its review of the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan, the EPA finds that the rule is a flagrant abuse of power by the former administration, just like the Supreme Court did when it ruled a historic stay on the unlawful rule in 2016,” said Congressman Markwayne Mullin. “The Clean Power Plan threatens the reliability of our energy resources, forces a tremendous regulatory burden on their production, raises electric costs for hardworking Americans, and puts good paying jobs at risk. It’s great to see the EPA start to roll back the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan rule so we can provide dependable, affordable energy that American families can count on.”
“The Clean Power Plan made energy expensive, causing average Americans to pay more for less power. Why do government agencies feel the need to squeeze regular American consumers to push their scientifically unproven climate change agenda? Moreover, the Clean Power Plan has been challenged in the Supreme Court as being unconstitutional and unlawful. The Trump administration is right to correct the previous administration’s overreach,” stated Congressman Franks.
“The Obama administration's Clean Power Plan was an egregious overreach by the federal government that overburdened those in the energy sector and forced many out of jobs. Rather than hindering our businesses with excessive regulation, the Trump administration is unleashing the free market again and putting America first with the repeal of this ill-advised rule,” said Congressman Mike Johnson.
Congressman Biggs said, “I commend the Trump Administration’s announcement that it will end the Obama-era Clean Power Plan. American energy independence is critical for sustained economic success and should not be hindered by unelected bureaucrats.”
“Balancing environmental protection with economic growth is vital for future generations,” said Congressman Hice. “Unfortunately, President Obama’s top-down approach under the Clean Power Plan was deeply flawed and yet another blatant regulatory overreach by his administration. Instead of protecting the public interest, it picked winners and losers, jeopardized jobs, and curbed economic growth. I applaud President Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for reversing course, which will ultimately create new jobs and spur the energy sector.”
Congressman LaMalfa said, “The Clean Power Plan has a nice sounding name, but in reality, it’s a prime example of burdensome and unnecessary regulation on America’s energy industry. The Obama Administration repeatedly overstepped its authority and ignored the longstanding limits to Executive power, and now we must right the ship. The Implementation of this rule has already been halted by a number of court decisions – including by the Supreme Court. It’s estimated that this rule would costs billions of dollars in compliance costs alone, not to mention the crippling effect on U.S. energy production and global competitiveness. This is the sort of job-killing power grab that the American people cannot and should not accept. I applaud Administrator Pruitt and the EPA for proposing to repeal this rule before it takes effect, and I look forward to a rulemaking process that is transparent and takes into account the needs and input of states before imposing heavy-handed regulations that leave American workers and energy production out in the cold.”
Congressman Cramer said, “President Trump and his Administration have come through for North Dakota, and frankly for energy consumers throughout our country. It has always been clear to North Dakotans that the EPA has overreached its legal authority by going outside the fence line of individual power plants and North Dakota is a good example of arbitrary and capricious emissions standards.”
“The Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan - which was estimated to cost more than $30 billion dollars - was promulgated without Congressional approval, making it the perfect example of federal overreach. It has been proven time and time again that a one-size-fits-all policy does not work for our state and I am pleased the Trump Administration has taken this step. I am proud that Minnesota companies and elected officials have taken it upon themselves to work to reduce carbon emissions without the heavy hand of the federal government demanding so. I applaud the decision to roll back the overreaching Clean Power Plan, and look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the Trump Administration towards an all-of-the-above energy plan so that we can maintain a prosperous economy and healthy environment that generations to come can enjoy,” concluded Congressman Emmer.
Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI, 2nd)
"This Administration has taken its latest step backwards in the fight to preserve and protect our environment by repealing the Clean Power Plan, which required states to fulfill specific carbon emission goals based on their individual energy consumption. This plan was a monumental step forward towards combating climate change, and prioritized the health of our children, our planet, and our future over handouts to corporations and the fossil fuel industry. Thankfully, cities and states across the country, like the state of #Hawaii, have stepped up to protect our environment and are committed to address the climate change crisis head on. We must build on the progress of states like Hawai‘i and take bold action. My bill, the OFF Act, would transition our country to a clean energy economy by 2035, and help to increase our competitiveness, improve the health and well-being of our people, and protect the environment for future generations."
Morgan Griffith (R-VA, 9th)
“The Clean Power Plan was bad for the United States and Southwest Virginia. It would have killed jobs, cost too much, and exceeded the EPA’s legal authority. I had argued from the beginning that the rule improperly interpreted the EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act, and the Supreme Court had stayed the rule. I commend the Trump Administration for withdrawing this misguided rule.”
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