Moran Opposes EPA Endrun Around Congress On Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Press Release

Congressman Jerry Moran signed a discharge petition to force the U.S. House of Representatives to consider H.R. 391, legislation that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from moving forward with new regulations to control greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Moran's actions follow EPA's recent announcement of new regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions for the first time in U.S. history.

"It is wrong for the Administration to move forward with these standards while Congress is currently debating the merits of climate change legislation," said Moran. "The Clean Air Act was never intended to regulate greenhouse gases. If allowed to become effective, these regulations would prove more costly for U.S. businesses and consumers than the Waxman/Markey Cap and Trade bill that I opposed in June."

The administration's proposed regulations would require power plants, factories, refineries, large feedlots and farms, and other large emitters to reduce greenhouse gases by installing the best available technology whenever an existing facility is modified or a new facility built. The regulations would apply to any industrial source that emits at least 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year. The EPA rule would impose a vast new permitting process and substantial costs on entities the EPA classifies as "major emitters".

On June 26, 2009, Moran voted against H.R. 2454, the Waxman/Markey Cap and Trade legislation, that would increase the price of transportation fuel and raise electric rates in Kansas. While greenhouse gas regulation under the House passed legislation would be devastating to the economy, the regulations announced by EPA would be worse. For the discharge petition to be successful it must have the signature of 218 Members of the House of Representatives.

Moran serves as a senior Member of the House Agriculture Committee.

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