Lummis Praises House Passage of Energy Tax Prevention Act

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) praised House passage of H.R. 910, The Energy Tax Prevention Act, which blocks the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing a back-door cap and trade energy tax.

Lummis released the following statement:

"Twenty-one months ago, Washington Democrats failed in several aggressive attempts to pass a cap and trade energy tax through Congress. Despite the measure's failure and the American people's opposition to it, the Administration is scheming to use any means it can to impose cap and trade regulations. The EPA's misuse of the Clean Air Act to impose these regulations is the latest example of its mission to raise costs on traditional energy sources.

"People in Wyoming and all over the country don't need or want to be taxed every time they turn on the light, use the microwave or turn on the shower. Although all Americans would be hung out to dry with skyrocketing energy costs, Wyoming's people and its economy would take a devastating hit as a result of these misguided regulations.

"Gas prices are already hitting $4 a gallon. There is no doubt that people in Wyoming and all Americans cannot afford this job-destroying energy tax, in any form."

Background:

· H.R. 910 will not change or weaken the Clean Air Act's ability to protect Americans from harmful air pollution. This bill was designed to clarify that the Clean Air Act does not grant EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gases to address climate change.

· Cap-and-trade legislation that moved through Congress last year would have potentially increased the price of a gallon of gasoline by 19 cents in 2015 and 95 cents in 2050. Imposing the same policy through regulations could impose even greater costs, as the EPA Administrator has acknowledged.

· The Energy Tax Prevention Act will not simply delay the EPA from imposing a national energy tax; it will permanently prevent such regulation under the Clean Air Act.

Source