The FINANCIAL -- In response to yesterday’s letters from 20 state governors on Clean Air Act greenhouse gas regulation and 98 industry trade associations supporting the Murkowski-Lincoln Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval, R. Bruce Josten, executive vice president for Government Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, issued the following statement.
The Chamber has long supported a Congressional approach to addressing climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
“With its Endangerment finding, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has begun the process of imposing costly, burdensome, job-killing regulations on large chunks of the American economy. We agree with a bipartisan group of 20 governors who have called on EPA to reject this reckless approach, and we have joined a broad group of affected industries calling on Senators to cast a “yes” vote on S. J. Res. 26, the bipartisan Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Blanche Lincoln.
“There is now no question that EPA plans to regulate both large and small businesses. Unlike a bill drafted by Congress to specifically address this issue, the existing statutes are not structured to handle greenhouse gases in a way that recognizes regional differences, the state of the technology, and economic impact. The Murkowski-Lincoln Congressional Review Act approach is the clearest, most sensible way to stop EPA. Unlike other bills that could become bogged down by parliamentary procedure, the Murkowski-Lincoln resolution is guaranteed a vote on the Senate floor.
“Members from both sides of the aisle have said throughout the climate change debate that this matter should be decided by Congress, not by unelected bureaucrats at the EPA. It is now clear that the voting public wants Congress to make good on this statement, and that means a “yes” vote on the Murkowski-Lincoln Congressional Review Act resolution. The Chamber remains supportive of passing climate legislation this year, and the Murkowski-Lincoln resolution will give Congress the time it needs to get this important issue right.”
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