Cassidy Promotes Manufacturing And Energy Bills
Press Release
Today, Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) voiced his support for the Promoting New Manufacturing Act, HR 4795, along with other energy bills that support job creation. Dr. Cassidy's amendment was successfully added to the bill, which will provide for greater transparency and help modern, new manufacturing facilities be built in the U.S.
Last week, EPA proposed sweeping new power sector regulations that threaten Louisiana's manufacturing renaissance. These regulations will drive billions of dollars in new costs and will raise electricity prices in many parts of the country.
Dr. Cassidy released the following statement:
"The economy shrunk last quarter. The jobs that are being created are lower paid with less benefits. We need better jobs with better benefits. EPA regulations threaten these jobs, including 8,000 jobs associated with 39 announced projects to build manufacturing projects in Louisiana. By bringing more oversight to the EPA and removing Washington's red tape, we can help make these projects and these jobs a reality."
Chemical manufacturing is Louisiana's second largest manufacturing industry and currently employs nearly 23,000 in its production facilities across the state. According to the most recent estimates, there are 181 announced new manufacturing projects in the chemical sector, with a total investment value of $115.7 billion. Of those projects, 39, or nearly one fourth, are in Louisiana, representing $28.6 billion of investment and an estimated 8,000 new direct jobs.
The Promoting New Manufacturing Act, H.R. 4795, would facilitate the construction of new facilities by advancing the timely issuance of preconstruction air permits by reducing permitting delays. It will increase transparency by making public the number of Clean Air Act New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction permits issued annually and the timelines for the full permitting process. It will also promote the processing of permits by requiring EPA to provide Congress with an annual report on the actions being taken by the agency to expedite the permitting process.
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