Capito: There's No Doubt In My Mind That The EPA's Decision Today Will Destroy Jobs In West Virginia

Press Release

Today the Environmental Protection finalized a rule to limit emissions from coal-fueled power plants. Co-founder of the Congressional Coal Caucus, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., expressed concern that the rule's unachievable compliance dates and expensive regulations will leave more West Virginians looking for work. Capito urges the Senate and the Administration to continue the House's efforts to rein in this rogue agency.

"Today's decision by the EPA to finalize the Utility MACT rule for coal-fueled power plants will destroy jobs, close plants and cause energy prices to soar. This is about reelection politics; the Administration has to appease an environmental lobby that's felt left on the sidelines. If American jobs are lost in the process, apparently that's just collateral damage," stated Capito.

Despite the complexity and expense of the new standards, companies will have to comply within four years. Some plants have already told the Administration that these new rules would force them to shutdown.

For decades the EPA has successfully cleaned up our air and streams without slowing down the economy. Now, at the worst possible time, the EPA is advancing an extreme agenda that threatens millions of jobs across America," concluded Capito. "The U.S. House of Representatives has passed multiple bills to rein in the EPA, including passing my amendment to mandate that the EPA consider jobs. Unfortunately, these bills are dead on arrival in the United States Senate. It's time for the Senate to take action against the EPA's extreme measures."

CAPITO'S ACTIONS TO REIN IN THE EPA:

· Introduced H.R. 1872, the "Employment Protection Act," which would require the Environmental Protection Agency to take into account jobs and economic activity prior to issuing a regulation, policy statement, guidance, implementing any new or substantially altered program, or issuing or denying any permit--essentially any action taken by the EPA. The House approved this measure as an amendment.

· Voted YES on H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act, which would require the EPA Administrator to establish compliance dates for relevant standards after considering such things as compliance costs, the availability of equipment, suppliers, and labor, and potential net employment impacts.

· Voted YES on the REINS (Restoring Congressional Accountability for Major Regulations) Act which would require Congressional and presidential approval of all regulations that cost more than $100 million a year. Right now, the Obama Administration has proposed 219 regulations that will cost over $100 million annually.

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