On the recordMarch 22, 2013
Madam President, I call up amendment No. 514. It is a bipartisan amendment with Senator Manchin. It clarifies that a Presidential exemption exists for utilities that despite their good- faith efforts have been unable to complete the necessary measures to comply with the standards of the EPA regarding the mercury toxic elements issue. That deadline is 2016. This amendment does not repeal or weaken the existing standard, the MATS rule. It simply allows powerplants that qualify for a Presidential exemption additional time to finish their upgrades and provides much- needed stability and reliability to the electric grid. It is the President's decision, and if he sees that a utility is acting in good faith and needs a little more time to complete it to meet those standards, he can make that decision to provide that additional time. It is a bipartisan amendment supported by both sides, and I urge our colleagues to vote for this. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.
