On the recordSeptember 8, 2017
Madam Chair, this amendment would prohibit funds from enforcing the Obama administration's EPA methane rule. This rule is currently facing litigation and uncertainty, and Congress must act to block this job-killing regulation estimated to cost the U.S. economy $530 million annually. Methane emissions from oil and natural gas have significantly declined in recent decades without multiple, overlapping Federal regulations, and this is no exception. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5 minutes. Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, the gentleman's amendment would block the EPA from regulating methane emissions from sources in the oil and gas sector. Late last night, we had a discussion about whether or not methane from flare-ups should be captured and saved as energy and used as energy. Although this amendment is different, I think it begs the question as to why we aren't making sure that we are capturing every ounce of energy that is produced in this country and reusing it. But back to the gentleman's amendment today. Methane, I want to point out, is a primary component of natural gas. It is a potent greenhouse gas, with global warming potential more than 25 times greater than carbon dioxide.…





