On the recordMay 1, 2019
I thank Chairman McGovern for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we find ourselves on the floor, yet again, to consider a rule for a piece of legislation that is nothing more than another messaging bill against the President of the United States. This new Democratic majority has spent nearly 20 percent--20 percent--of the time debating bills on the floor that are nonbinding messaging pieces of legislation. H.R. 9 is just another example of this majority's intent on messaging against the President and the lack of any true agenda for the American people. The reality is that we all want clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. Who doesn't? However, this bill isn't the solution. Addressing environmental policy should not include extreme policies like the Green New Deal, nor should it involve binding ourselves to international agreements that put the United States at a disadvantage to its main security and economic competitors in the world, and with no regard to cost for American consumers and ratepayers. Republicans have a better approach. We can protect our environment by promoting policies favoring clean energy, like nuclear, hydropower, natural gas, wind, solar, and carbon capture, and removing barriers to the deployment of new technologies and innovation. The United States is already leading the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through innovation and technological development.…
