On the recordNovember 10, 2011
I rise today to speak about a very real problem, making sure that we do everything we can to protect jobs, safeguard our environment, and make sure utility companies can provide reliable and affordable electricity from our domestic resources. There are two EPA rules that are at the heart of this issue. One is the utility MACT rule, which would require a decrease in mercury emissions at powerplants, and the cross-State air pollution rule, which would require powerplants to lower emissions of pollutants that may reduce air quality in neighboring States. Some utilities have already complied with these rules. Many have not. You can put the blame for the past sins on anybody and everybody, and we seem to do it well here from time to time. This is not what we are here for today. My good colleague and my friend from Indiana will be speaking after me. This is truly a bipartisan effort trying to bring reasonability and common sense to this subject. But we have proven here in this body time and again that you truly cannot fix it if you blame people for it. What we intend to do with our legislation is truly fix the problem. Let me be clear. I believe both of these rules aim to accomplish important objectives. But as they are written, they are nearly impossible to realize.…
