Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after voting in favor H.R. 4821, legislation funding the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024 which included three amendments offered or cosponsored by Congressman Gosar:

“This budget vote has started the process of undoing the reckless spending and bizarre woke policies implemented by the prior Congress.  I am pleased to cast my vote in favor of this important legislation that claws back nearly $10 billion from Biden’s green-new deal policies such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and radical Environmental and Climate Justice grant program.  

This legislation also prevents the Biden regime from implementing several onerous regulations on public land uses, including those abounding in Arizona, that should remain available for hunting, fishing, mineral production and oil and gas leasing.

Importantly, three amendments I authored or cosponsored were included in this funding bill that passed and will have immediate benefit to Arizonans. 

My amendment #91 prohibits funding to be used to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed rule by the EPA titled "Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter."  The EPA’s proposed rule will lower the particulate matter (PM) standard to a level Maricopa County and other counties in Arizona could never meet.  The PM present in Arizona is not due to manufacturing but is naturally occurring.  There is no way to lower the PM in the desert.  The EPA must consider the world in its natural state.  Without any contribution from mankind, there will be dust and particulate matter in Arizona that exceeds the proposed rule by the EPA.  Agencies should be able to recognize the differences between a rain forest and a desert.  

My amendment #92  prohibits the Biden regime from implementing, administering, or enforcing the recent land grab via the Grand Canyon National Monument designation and corresponding mineral withdrawal of almost a million acres.  The monument designation flies in the face of the multiple use doctrine for public lands. Further, it creates no new revenue, and neither creates nor empowers any employment.  The federal government already controls far too much land in Arizona and this restriction is unacceptable.

Finally, I teamed up with Representative Nehls to offer amendment #63 prohibiting funds for the National Park Service to place any limitation on the number of air tours at national parks.  Air tours are an important option for many visitors conducting a one-in-a-lifetime trip to see famous natural landmarks.  National Parks like the Grand Canyon can be difficult to access for many and air tours provide excellent opportunities for everyone to experience the beauty of the Grand Canyon and other National Parks. Radical leftists have been attempting to shut down the air tour industry and this amendment will stop the park service from hurting Americans and hurting tourism.

H.R. 4821 safeguards jobs in Arizona, promoting energy independence and eliminates many of the Biden regime’s destructive regulations wreaking havoc on Arizonan’s day in and day out,” concluded Congressman Gosar.