On House Floor, Welch Fights Bill to Ban EPA From Regulating Greenhouse Gases

Press Release

Rep. Peter Welch took to the House floor Wednesday to fight legislation that would bar the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases. The measure would overturn scientific findings about the risks posed to humans and the environment by such gases.

The bill, officially known as the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 910), would prohibit the EPA from considering greenhouse gasses as air pollutants, thereby exempting them from regulation under the Clean Air Act. The legislation would negate a 2007 Supreme Court decision which found that the EPA has the authority to regulate such gases under the Clean Air Act. H.R. 910 also undermines the EPA's authority to enforce existing greenhouse gas reporting requirements and motor vehicle emission standards.

"The authors of this bill have come to the conclusion that global warming is a hoax," Welch said. "Give them credit, getting there was not an easy task and flies in the face of the unanimous conclusion of American scientists. Supporters of this legislation are following the long-established tradition we humans have, the ability to disregard the obvious and proven when that conflicts with our ideology."

At a Capitol Hill news conference earlier in the day, Welch spoke about the negative effect that H.R. 910 would have on efforts to reduce America's reliance on foreign oil and bring down gas prices for consumers. To watch the video, CLICK HERE.

Yesterday, Welch offered two amendments to the bill in the House Rules Committee that would have repealed tax breaks for oil companies and protected the EPA's energy efficiency program Energy Star. Both of Welch's amendments were rejected by the Republican leadership. To watch Welch's testimony before the Rules Committee, CLICK HERE.

To watch Welch's floor statement from today, CLICK HERE.

A vote on H.R. 910 is expected later this afternoon. The President has vowed to veto the legislation.

Source