OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

Date: July 7, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Energy Environment

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Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer a commonsense amendment to the Interior and EPA Appropriations bill which, I hope, all Members can and will support.

First, I would like to commend Chairman Calvert for his work on this legislation and for including critical provisions to prevent the EPA from moving forward on crippling new regulations on our economy.

Mr. Chairman, since 2009, our job creators have faced an onslaught of regulations from the EPA even as Congress has consistently reduced the Agency's budget year after year. The EPA has proposed a regulation to lower the national ozone standard, which is largely based on shaky scientific data and could cost our economy billions of dollars a year. The EPA has also proposed new regulations on new and existing power plants that could substantially increase energy prices for hard-working families and small businesses.

The Agency has cited its authority to regulate under the Clean Air Act as the basis for many of these decisions. However, when it comes to evaluating how its regulations impact American jobs, the Agency has failed to follow the law. Section 321(a) of the Clean Air Act clearly states: ``The Administrator shall conduct continuing evaluations of potential loss or shifts of employment.''

Last year, the EPA was sued because of its failure to comply with this provision. Additionally, we heard testimony last month before the Science, Space, and Technology Committee that further reinforced the EPA's failure to evaluate employment impacts as Congress has directed under section 321(a).

It is unacceptable for the EPA Administrators to cherry-pick the law based on their own ideological agenda. That is why I have introduced this amendment, which would ensure that the EPA abides by the law and conducts ongoing evaluations of just how their actions impact jobs in America. I urge the adoption of this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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