WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the House voted in favor of H.R. 2042, the Ratepayer Protection Act, which prevents states from being forced to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s rules addressing emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel fired power plants until after a comprehensive judicial review has taken place:
Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the House voted in favor of H.R. 2042, the Ratepayer Protection Act, which prevents states from being forced to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s rules addressing emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel fired power plants until after a comprehensive judicial review has taken place:
“I am pleased to see the House put the brakes on the Obama Administration’s unwavering march towards enforcing its environmental insanity on the country. The EPA is intent on killing thousands of American jobs and harming our economy with these new mandates that will do little to nothing to reduce carbon emissions worldwide. More than 30 states have made legal objections to the EPA’s ‘Clean Power Plant Rule’, expressing concerns about detrimental impacts this unnecessary regulation will have on local economies and the cost of providing energy to consumers.
“Over the past few years, we have seen federal judges continue to push back against these extremist regulations despite the administration’s sincerest attempts to circumvent the legislative process. I have no doubt that the courts will continue to rule against the president’s harmful regulations that are funded by special interest groups. That is why the House acted today to allow for judicial review to be carried out. Ultimately, Congress, not EPA bureaucrats at the behest of the President, should dictate our country’s climate change policy using input from those most affected by changes to the law.”
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.
Congressman Gosar offered an amendment to H.R. 2042 requiring 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 requires legislation to be passed by Congress before any new regulations for power plants can be implemented.
