WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announced final “Clean Power Plan” rule seeking to dramatically reduce carbon emissions from power plants:
Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announced final “Clean Power Plan” rule seeking to dramatically reduce carbon emissions from power plants:
“Today, President Obama and his EPA minions continued their assault on jobs and affordable energy. Unfortunately, blatant overreaches and burdensome new regulations by this administration are par for the course these days. This unnecessary power grab is further evidence that the president is more concerned with appeasing extremist environmental groups than with protecting the interests of the American people.
“This new regulation will do little to nothing to lower global carbon emissions and will only embolden global competitors. By forcing this fundamentally flawed rule down the throats of energy providers and consumers, the president is threatening to extinguish millions of good paying jobs, to cause energy prices to skyrocket and to further impoverish minorities who are already struggling to make ends meet.
“Time and time again, Congress and the American people have repeatedly rejected cap-and-tax energy plans proposed by this president and his big-government allies. Yet, the Obama Administration continues its ideological war on energy and mistakenly believes the administration can regulate its way to prosperity. As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I am more emboldened than ever to put an end to the lawless ways of the EPA and the Obama Administration by defending commonsense policies that protect hard-working families and our nation’s energy security.”
Background
American families are projected to lose almost $600 billion in disposable income as a result of EPA’s “Clean Power Plant Rule”. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for 21st Century Energy, all of this economic harm and destruction for our economies will only result in a 1.8% reduction of global carbon-dioxide emissions by the year 2030.
On June 24, 2015, the House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act. Congressman Gosar offered an amendment to H.R. 2042, the Ratepayer Protection Act, which prevented states from being forced to comply with EPA’s Clean Power plan until after a comprehensive judicial review.
Congressman Gosar also offered an amendment to H.R. 2042 which required formal withdrawal of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan proposed rule published on June 18, 2014 and the supplemental proposed rule published on November 4, 2014. The amendment also required the EPA to consult with local governments and small businesses to commission a report on ways to further the goals of the Clean Air Act without new regulations and required legislation to be passed by Congress before any new regulations for power plants can be implemented.
