Date: 2011-04-06
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the gentleman. My friend from Illinois. have I got an amendment for you. Im answering your concern. My amendment says it requires. before finalizing emission regulations on greenhouse gas producers. the EPA must provide the producer with adequate notice of at least 30 days. The provision would also allow for industry input. encouraging collaboration between EPA and energy providers during the regulation process. Currently. the EPA does not have a minimum time requirement. It also gives another 60day extension. This is about national security because air pollutants and then no energy. bad on one side and bad on the other. Lets get together. Because we cant dismiss any of these energy sources. but they need to be better. And how can we. since this is supposed to be the Supreme Court Constitution side. how can you dismiss the constitutional right that EPA has to regulate? I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. This is an amendment for them. Madam Chair. I rise today in support of my amendment No. 37 to H.R. 910. "Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011." H.R. 910 prematurely eliminates the responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. My amendment would protect our national security by considering industry specific energy providers that are uniquely connected to our national security. This measure would expand the opportunity to garner industry input during the rulemaking process. and would provide the Environmental Protection Agency with a timeframe to engage with the industry during the process. Madam Chair. this amendment requires that before finalizing emissions regulations on greenhouse gas producers. the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must provide the producer with adequate notice of at least 30 days. This provision would also allow for industry input. encouraging collaboration between the EPA and energy providers during the regulation process. Currently. the EPA does not have a minimum time requirement. By mandating industry engagement during the rule making process We will ensure that the proposed regulations do not negatively impact industry jobs and domestic energy. This amendment would force a discussion between the government and the industry during We rule making process so that jobs can be maintained. U.S. dependence on foreign oil can be decrease. and the Supreme Courts confirmed responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Agency will not be extinguished by short sighted legislation. As the Representative for Houston. the nations energy capital. I am committed to finding a balance that will support continued growth in the energy industry while protecting the environment. My amendment to H.R. 910 provides emissions producers in the energy industry the ability to engage in discussions and studies with the EPA. The provisions in this amendment will encourage communication between the EPA and energy providers throughout the regulation process. Americans should not have to risk living with highly polluted air. We must not shy away from the importance of the Clean Air Act and the role of the Environmental Protection Agency. This country needs energy. We utilize on and off shore drilling exploration. We must ensure that the industries impacted are engaged in the process while simultaneously regulating the affects of green house gas. This is crucial to the daily lives of Americans. The Clean Air Act provides the EPA with the authority to regulate emissions reduction. This authority was upheld by the Supreme Courts decision in Massachusetts v. EPA. Any attempt to strip the EPA of this responsibility would undermine the Clean Air Act and exacerbate global warming. The EPA must be allowed to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases. The climate change caused by these emissions affects temperature. causes extreme weather and dramatically reduces air quality. resulting in asthma. respiratory disease and lung cancer. The EPA projects that continued improvements in air quality under the Clean Air Act will save more than a trillion dollars by 2020. and prevent 230.000 deaths per year. By allowing the EPA to protect our environment now. we provide security for future generations. Prohibiting the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions to ensure clean air and slow the rate of climate change will have lasting consequences. We must. however. also consider the consequence to the energy industry. H.R. 910 simply takes the wrong approach. Instead of focusing on developing standards upon which both the Environmental Protection Agency and the affected industries agree. it attempts to remove the Environmental Protection Agency from the process. Thereby baring the industry from developing standards upon which they can all agree. It is a matter of fairness. The EPA would ensure that industries would have a minimum standard to follow. This measure would ensure the industry would be involved when determining the best practices to ensure that reasonableness of those regulations. Madam Chair. my amendment is essential to provide greater consideration to this sensitive issue by affording an opportunity for energy providers to state the impact that the proposed rule would have on their industry. This amendment will forge important compromises between the EPA and the energy industry. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting my amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas .