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Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after joining Senator Jeff Flake (AZ-R), in introducing the House version of a Joint Resolution (H.J.RES.74) of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) which will block the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new ozone regulation published in the Federal Register October 26, 2015:
“I am pleased that Arizona is on the forefront of fighting back against the EPA’s dangerous overreach. Senator Jeff Flake and I have introduced companion legislation to ensure that the president’s extremist environmental agenda never sees the light of day. If the president and the EPA believe so strongly that their $25 billion per year ozone regulation is what’s best for America, why would they need to circumvent Congress and the American people to implement it? The truth is ozone levels have been reduced by more than 33% since 1980, in part to significant voluntary efforts throughout many industries.
“Regardless of President Obama’s resentment of the legislative process, our system of checks and balances is more powerful than his desire to force his will on the American people. The U.S. economy can’t afford a nearly $2 trillion hit to our GDP and the loss of millions of jobs as a result of an unnecessary and overreaching new regulation not based on science. This flurry of new environmental regulations has nothing to do with protecting our environment but rather is about gaining more control over the lives of hard-working Americans. It is far past time that Congress reined in the rogue actions of the EPA. I support continuing commonsense and voluntary efforts to reduce ozone levels, not unachievable mandates that will kill jobs and drive up energy prices for consumers.”
Background:
The text of the Joint Resolution can be found HERE.
The CRA allows Congress to utilize an expedited process to disprove of major rules and only requires a simple majority vote to pass legislation. Recently, the U.S. Senate successfully utilized the CRA to pass a bill that blocks the EPA’s overreaching Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation.
Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association strongly supports the Gosar bill writing, “GCSECA strongly urge the retention of the current ozone standard. We value clean air and are proud that nationally ozone-forming emissions have been cut in half since 1980, leading to a 33% drop in ozone concentrations. The EPA’s current proposed ozone NAAQS revisions are premature and unnecessary as the agency just updated the ozone standards six years ago and these standards are still being implemented by states. EPA’s stringent ozone standards could limit business expansion in nearly every populated region of the United States and impair the ability of U.S. companies to create new jobs and attract and develop business.”
Arizona’s Generation and Transmission Cooperatives strongly supports the Gosar bill writing, “The revised ozone standards, if fully implemented, would be the most expensive mandate in our nation’s history. The impact on many rural communities would be particularly profound… Rural communities served by AEPCO, where in some areas up to a third of the population we serve live at or below the federal poverty level, already face economic hardship. Job losses in every sector of the local economy have been staggering, and most communities where people receive our power have yet to recover. The cost of this proposal to the rural Arizona worker is real and immediate, while the benefits are unverified and uncertain. We thank you for your leadership in blocking the implementation of the new ozone standard, which threaten the livelihood of rural communities throughout the U.S. and Arizona.”
Jack Gerard, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute has said, “Job creation is about to get more difficult in America. New ozone regulations released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will place one-third of U.S. counties out of attainment…Ozone levels have already dropped 18 percent since 2000 even though the current standards haven’t been fully implemented yet…Very costly. Virtually overnight, EPA’s new rule increased the number of counties facing non-attainment status from 217 to 958 – a fourfold increase…Unfortunately, the EPA has chosen to ignore the science and move ahead with unachievable regulations that could be the most costly in history despite ample evidence that new standards are not necessary to protect public health. Further tightening the standards will not improve air quality any faster. What it will do is stifle job growth and harm the economy.”
Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers has stated, “the Obama Administration finalized a rule that is overly burdensome, costly and misguided…the new ozone standard will inflict pain on companies that build things in America—and destroy job opportunities for American workers. Now it’s time for Congress to step up and take a stand for working families.”
Current endorsements for Congressman Gosar’s legislation include: American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, American Farm Bureau, Americans for Limited Government, Associated General Contractors of America, Eagle Forum, Freedom Works, Concerned Citizens for America, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, Mason Contractors Association of America, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Farm Bureau, Arizona Generation and Transmission Cooperatives, Arizona Liberty, Arizona Manufacturers Council, Arizona Mining Association, Arizona Pork Council, Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce, Cactus & Pine Golf Course Superintendents Association, Gila County Growers Association, Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association, New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, New Mexico Wool Growers, New Mexico Federal Lands Council, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Co-op, Town of Fredonia, AZ, Veritas Research Consulting, Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, Apache Junction City Councilman Jeff Serdy, La Paz County Supervisors King Clapperton; Yavapai County Supervisors Chip Davis, Jack Smith and Thomas Thurman; taxpayers Jordan Rose and Jim Salscheider
71 Original Cosponsors joined Congressman Gosar in introducing this legislation including: Representatives Ralph Abraham, Mark Amodei, Brian Babin, Andy Barr, Joe Barton, Dan Benishek, Rod Blum, Charles Boustany, Mo Brooks, Ken Buck, Earl Carter, Steve Chabot, Jason Chaffetz, Kevin Cramer, Rick Crawford, Scott DesJarlais, Jeff Duncan, John Duncan, Blake Farenthold, John Fleming, Trent Franks, Bob Gibbs, Louie Gohmert, Garret Graves, Morgan Griffith, Glenn Grothman, Cresent Hardy, Tim Huelskamp, Bill Johnson, Mike Kelly, Steve King, Sam Johnson, Walter Jones, David Joyce, Mike Kelly, Raul Labrador, Doug Lamborn, Frank Lucas, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Cynthia Lummis, Luke Messer, Tom McClintock, David McKinley, Martha McSally, Candice Miller, Alex Mooney, Randy Neugebauer, Dan Newhouse, Gary Palmer, Steve Pearce, Mike Pompeo, Bill Posey, Reid Ribble, Tom Rice, Dana Rohrabacher, David Rouzer, Matt Salmon, Austin Scott, Jim Sensenbrenner, Pete Sessions, John Shimkus, Lamar Smith, Marlin Stutzman, Glenn Thompson, David Trott, Jackie Walorski, Randy Weber, Ted Yoho, Don Young, Joe Wilson and Ryan Zinke.
Senator Jeff Flake introduced the companion bill, S.J.Res.25, with 30 original cosponsors.
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