John Barrasso

The purpose of our bill is to help America's natural soda ash producers compete in the global market.

Could you explain the importance of the soda ash industry, the jobs the industry provides to rural communities in Wyoming and in California?

So additive, you would have another 30 to 40 based on the $2 per ton.

Since 2009, China has given its synthetic soda ash producers a nine percent rebate on China's value added tax.

Senator Wyden knows the importance of the soda ash industry to Oregon, Wyoming and communities throughout the country.

Soda ash exports help reduce America's trade deficit and grow our nation's economy.

Also is it fair to say that for people who want to reduce the carbon emissions, they really ought to support taking steps to ensure the U.S. soda ash producers grow our market over, say, China synthetic soda ash producers?

Yes, and what steps have you taken to reduce these unfair trade practices?

Could I ask you about any other unfair trade barriers that are out that countries, other than China, have imposed on American soda ash exports?

China has aggressively moved to help its synthetic soda ash producers capture market share from America's soda ash producers.

It seems that these actions give Chinese soda ash producers what has been described as a $27 per metric ton benefit.

America's soda ash producers continue to battle unfair trade practices imposed by other nations.

We have bipartisan support on a new clean water rule law

The agencies and our Federal Government take action and promulgate rules that are based on the intent of Congress and statutes

Mr. Chairman, I am going to continue to work with the majority leader and getting a vote on this bipartisan legislation so we can get it to the floor and rewrite the rule.

Well, it is pretty clear, when they have a $16 million fine, that the EPA certainly thinks that they have the authority to do this.

So a District Court judge in North Dakota concluded that the process used to develop the rule is inexplicably arbitrary and devoid of a reasoned process.

Something is terribly wrong with the EPA and your agency where you destroy people's lives over a pond.

If the rules don't do that, then what we should do is to work to pass a law

That is why I would ask that you support bipartisan legislation that we have introduced.

Why should any family trust the EPA or the Corps with this Waters of the United States rule that will ultimately empower unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats to steamroll families, take their college savings, clean out their retirement…

And if you truly want to provide certainty and clarity, you will withdraw this rule and start over with a process that reaches out to States and local governments, and is not arbitrary and devoid of a reasoned process.

I can't calculate that loss to our economy. I can't calculate that lost opportunity cost.

It hurts your moose, it hurts your elk, it hurts your livestock.

You testified before this committee in May that Wyoming had met every goal set by Fish and Wildlife, and it was time to delist the gray wolf.