Wilson Co-Sponsors A Pair Of Bills To Stop EPA from Killing Jobs

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Wilson Co-Sponsors A Pair Of Bills To Stop EPA from Killing Jobs

Today, Rep Charlie Wilson signed onto a pair of bills drafted to stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from expanding the Clean Air Act and stifling job creation.

"Regulating greenhouse gas emissions through the Clean Air Act could kill jobs and hurt the economic recovery. That's not what we need right now," Wilson said. "I've always vowed to protect the coal industry and I will continue do so."

In mid-March, the EPA plans to issue new standards for greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). According to EPA's interpretation of the Clean Air Act, the GHG standards will automatically trigger new requirements on all facilities that produce GHG emissions.

"The Clean Air Act, as I understand it, wasn't created so that the EPA could regulate greenhouse gas emissions," Wilson said. "And I believe their actions could significantly hurt our area. I can't let that happen."

Wilson believes that these new standards will mean overwhelmed permit offices, slowed down construction, and could even potentially shut down existing plants.

"I've just signed onto two different bills that, if enacted, would achieve the same result -- to stop the EPA -- but they go about doing that in different ways," Wilson said. "I just want to cover all the bases and make sure the EPA doesn't get ahead of Congress and create economic problems for areas like ours that are just starting to recover."

The first approach, H.R. 4396, the Save our Energy Jobs Act, would amend the Clean Air Act to state that greenhouse gases are not subject to the Clean Air Act.

H.J. Res. 76 is a procedural approach. This joint resolution of disapproval would nullify the EPA's finding in December 2009 that greenhouse gases are a threat to human health and therefore could be regulated under the Clean Air Act. Under the Congressional Review Act of 1996, Congress has 60 legislative days to review a major rule under expedited legislative procedures and consider a resolution to disapprove of the rulemaking.

Both bills have been sent to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for review.

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