Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, this amendment prohibits the EPA from using funds for actions pursuant to section 115 of the Clean Air Act. To be clear, section 115 of the Clean Air Act allows the EPA to mandate State emissions levels to whatever level the agency deems appropriate if they find U.S. emissions endanger a foreign nation and the endangered nation has a reciprocal agreement to prevent or control these emissions in their own nation, such as the Paris climate accord. This backdoor provision allows the EPA to vastly expand its regulatory authority and encroach on the right of the States to regulate their own energy sectors based on the actions solely of a foreign nation. It is irresponsible to allow unelected bureaucrats at the EPA to retain the ability to seize such expansive authority. If the U.S. Government wants to pursue such a policy, one that in my opinion is constitutionally suspect, it should be done through an explicit congressional delegation of authority on a case-by-case basis. A similar amendment has passed the House during previous Interior and Environmental Appropriations packages. I urge adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.”