WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, an outspoken critic of President Obama’s strategy of circumventing Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulatory power grabs, released the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration’s new job-killing EPA regulations and their effects on Kansas families:
“Today’s announcement of more draconian EPA regulations from the Obama Administration threatens not only our nation’s stated goal of energy independence, but every middle class family struggling to make ends meet. I’ll use every legislative tool to fight this shortsighted proposal, including supporting legislation to prevent the EPA from finalizing this rule, and limiting funding through the appropriations process.
“The Obama Administration’s latest end run around Congress has been estimated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to cost 224,000 U.S. jobs on average every year through 2030. These regulations would also increase electricity costs by $289 billion and lower households’ disposable income by $586 billion through that same period.
“Kansans, already burdened by Obamacare and still struggling in the Obama economy, simply can’t afford this agenda driven EPA overreach. Worse still, by the Obama Administration’s own admission, these regulations and any unilateral action by the United States would have a negligible impact on global temperatures. As long as large developing countries like Russia, China, India, and Brazil continue increasing their carbon emission on an annual basis, anything we do will be inconsequential. This proposal amounts to all pain and no gain.
“While I understand the importance of protecting the environment for future generations, I also recognize the need to strike a balance between federal regulation and policies that encourage private investment in the responsible exploration and use of North America’s vast supply of natural resources. Our national energy policy should focus on domestic energy production, reducing imports from volatile or hostile regions of the world, and continuing to properly monitor and enforce market regulations. On the supply side, the government can help by supporting responsible North American oil, natural gas and coal exploration and exportation, while promoting the development of alternative, renewable energy resources.”
Senator Roberts is an outspoken advocate for the elimination of ridiculous and burdensome regulations issued by the agenda driven Obama Administration. As such, he has introduced the Regulatory Responsibility for our Economy Act strengthening and codifying the President’s Executive Order from January 18, 2011, ensuring that regulations put forth by the Executive Branch consider the economic burden on American businesses, ensure stakeholder input and promote innovation. The bill currently has 35 co-sponsors.
Senator Roberts is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.