On the recordMarch 28, 2012
I rise today to bring attention once again to this administration's assault on our domestic energy production. For the past 3 years, I've been saying many times from this very podium that the EPA is overstepping its bounds and regulating where it cannot legislate and costing us American jobs. Last Friday evening, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia overruled the EPA's veto of the Spruce Mine's Clean Water Act permit. The decision stated--and this is a quote from the judge--that the EPA's veto was ``unprecedented'' and it had acted in a manner that was ``arbitrary, capricious, and not in accordance with the law.'' Could there be a clearer sign that we've been subjected to an overreach of Executive power? This decision is a win for West Virginia, but we have a long way to go because the administration's so-called energy policies have led to higher gas prices and higher heating prices. We're blessed to have abundant natural resources in this country, particularly in my State of West Virginia, but this becomes irrelevant if this administration continues to hold these domestic resources hostage. All-of-the-above means following the law. ____________________
