Energy Consumers Relief Act of 2013

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this so-called Energy Consumers Relief Act, which would be more accurately titled the Blocking Public Health Protections Act. The best I can say about this bill is that it is going precisely nowhere--and for good reason.

Under this legislation, the Department of Energy would be required to waste increasingly limited resources undertaking costly and time-consuming review of certain ``energy-related'' EPA rules. The term ``energy-related'' is not defined, and no time limit is given for completion of DoE's duplicative analysis.

As a result, H.R. 1582 would have the practical--and intended-- effect of blocking or indefinitely delaying important public health protections, even if the Secretary of Energy never exercises his authority to overturn the EPA--protections like the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, which will reduce mercury and other harmful toxins from power plants; or the vehicle tailpipe standards, which, ironically, are already saving consumers money at the pump.

Madam Chair, Americans expect their government to ensure that their air is healthy and their water is clean. H.R. 1582 is poorly drafted, ill-conceived legislation that would take us in precisely the opposite direction.

I urge a ``no'' vote.

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