Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011

Floor Speech

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 910) to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change, and for other purposes:

* Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chair, I rise today to discuss my unwavering support for legislation this body considered on this week, and passed by large margin yesterday on this floor. Unfortunately I was detained during the final passage vote for H.R. 910, and was unable to record my support for this legislation. I wish to do so now.

* For the last two years, Lisa Jackson's Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has waged a war on the state of Texas that is destroying jobs and hampering economic growth. Texas was one of the last states hit by the recession in 2008, in large part due to its robust energy industry, with thousands of jobs connected to oil and gas exploration and production. Since taking office in 2009, President Obama has made it clear that he will do everything he can to interfere with any state using its own initiative to grow the economy and create jobs. In Mr. Obama's America, only the federal government can create jobs. We know this to be a failed experiment, yet he is still intent on doing all he can to continue to hamper the efforts of Texans to create jobs and grow the economy.

* From the ``flex-permitting'' plan that Texas' Council on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has had implemented for over two decades, to greenhouse gas permitting, which will destroy industry all over the state and the country, the EPA is holding up permits and stifling growth at every turn.

* For these reasons, and many others, I wholeheartedly support H.R. 910. I was a cosponsor of this legislation from the very beginning. Twice during its consideration in the House Energy & Commerce Committee, I voiced my support, and was pleased to vote to pass it out of committee and have it considered on the House floor.

* I regret circumstances detained me from the vote on final passage yesterday evening. I hope, however, there is no doubt that, had I been able to be present during the vote, I would have voted in the affirmative, and continue to support his legislation without reservation.

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