Andy Biggs: “I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding time to me today. I applaud Congressman Olson for introducing this very…”

“I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding time to me today. I applaud Congressman Olson for introducing this very important legislation. I also thank Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith for holding numerous hearings to fully examine the Environmental Protection Agency's National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Arizonans desperately need the reforms that Representative Olson has offered in his legislation. Unfortunately, my constituents in the East Valley of Maricopa County understand all too well the consequences of onerous EPA regulations. Arizona has high levels of background ozone in the atmosphere, meaning that, from the EPA's perspective, we are regularly above the attainment level. But instead of trying to fully understand my State's intricate needs or engaging in efforts to work with State officials to develop achievable plans and paths forward, the EPA has doubled down time after time with new standards that are impossible to meet. H.R. 806 will help States like mine create meaningful implementation plans by giving us more time to work with the Federal Government and stakeholders. It will also allow us more flexibility in how we meet new regulations. Good, commonsense bills like this one are needed to ensure that we do not overregulate in a way that severely disrupts our local economies for little or no benefit.…”