Harry Reid: “there has been much talk by the President and other members of the Administration about developing a comprehensive…”

“there has been much talk by the President and other members of the Administration about developing a comprehensive energy strategy that will help avert national supply shortages and protect the environment. I hope we'll all work together on a balanced approach. That is a laudable goal. However, it seems the Administration may already have begun backpedaling or backsliding away from the bipartisan rhetoric and the environmental gains that we've recently made. One matter, in particular, bothers me. That is the subject of dirty diesels and the recently issued EPA rules to clean up that source of pollution. I would like to put in the Record a copy of a letter that I have just received from a broad coalition of groups that is concerned about the fate of this rule. They fear that the rule and its benefits to the public's health may be delayed or even withdrawn entirely. It's an impressive group that the Administration should heed. I understand that the Administrator is considering acting to delay the implementation of the final rule to cut down on emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines and reduce sulfur in diesel fuel. In addition to the fact that this potential action and others already taken by agencies to delay recently issued rules to protect the environment do not appear to comply with the Administrative Procedures Act, it's just plain bad policy.”