Providing for Congressional Disapproval of a Rule Submitted by The Environmental Protection Agency

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S.J. Res. 23 and 24, resolutions that would protect my constituents from egregious EPA overreach. This burdensome regulation is projected to raise electric rates in Florida annually between 11 and 15 percent for over 10 years while providing virtually no environmental benefits.

The regulations for existing power plants, commonly called the Clean Power Plan, could have disastrous consequences for the safety, affordability, and reliability of my constituents' electricity. In my district, there are over 200,000 residents who get their electricity from rural electric cooperatives, utilities formed during the Great Depression to serve rural, traditionally underserved areas with electricity.

If the Clean Power Plan continues without serious alterations, it has the potential to negatively affect these underserved areas the most. The Clean Power Plan could close down power plants in rural areas that provide jobs and economic activity.

In Florida, the Seminole Electric Cooperative operates two power plants whose baseload generating units do not meet the emission rate requirements. Their Seminole generating station employs over 300 individuals. If the EPA forces the plant to close prematurely, these jobs are at risk, and rural electric cooperative members, like my constituents, will still have to pay for the closed plant in their rates through 2042 while also paying for a new electricity source.

The Congressional Review Act was created for a reason: to give this body the authority to check the executive branch when it oversteps its bounds and enacts policy against the will of the people.

I urge my colleagues to support these resolutions, both of them, to protect my constituents from needless rate increases and to protect the powers of this institution.

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