E-Newsletter 6/11/12

Statement

When the federal government oversteps its constitutional boundaries and bureaucratic agencies impose arbitrary regulations, people in Arizona and across the country pay the price through lost job opportunities and higher energy and water prices.

As the federal government grows, so do the consequences of its actions. There comes a time when states like Arizona cannot bear the cost of additional uninformed, impractical, and poorly implemented federal regulations.

Last week, I was pleased to host a held a field hearing at the Arizona State Capitol entitled, "Evaporating Prosperity: How Federal Actions Are Driving Up Water and Power Costs, Threatening Jobs and Leaving Arizonans High and Dry." I was honored to have Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Water and Power Subcommittee, and Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ) join me in examining the many ways in which federal actions are obstructing job growth and driving up water and power costs for people throughout Arizona.

I have made it a point to stand up against the burdensome regulations put forth by federal bureaucrats who are constantly working against taxpayers and job creators by pushing regulations and opposing much-needed policies to promote job growth and resource development in Arizona. Two of the biggest examples of how these actions are affecting our state are with wildfire prevention and proposed regulations threatening the Navajo Generating Station.

One does not have to look far to see the struggles the people of Arizona are experiencing. Last year, nearly one million acres of Arizona's forests burned in one of the worst fire seasons in our state's history. This year has not improved; already since late April, over 45,000 acres of forest in Arizona have been destroyed due to wildfires.

Rural Arizonans are tired of being victims of avoidable wildfire conditions. It is clear to those in Arizona who deal with these fires that such incidents are in fact avoidable. However, the forest fires continue to occur partly because of the red tape and regulation that surrounds the forests.

These fires kill endangered species, destroy habitats, and pollute our air and waterways more than any human activity. Additionally, they cost the federal government millions of taxpayer dollars in immediate fire response and many millions more in restoration and rehabilitation.

We must remove the bureaucratic red tape, reform forest health policy, and put a stop to endless litigation undermining important forest projects.

I introduced the Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act--which will streamline the review process and allow the U.S. Forest Service to utilize emergency provisions of existing regulations--so that our forests can be maintained and provide economic opportunities for rural communities.

The Navajo Generating Station (NGS) provides over 90 percent of the power for the Central Arizona Project (CAP), which is the largest supplier of renewable water in the state and supports over 80 percent of Arizona's population and economic activity.

Beyond providing Arizona with water and power, the sale of the plant's excess power is critical to the federal government's ability to uphold previously-enacted and potential future Native American water settlements. In short, it is a vital and irreplaceable piece of our state's short- and long-term water and power security, impacting nearly every citizen of our state.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new, cost-prohibitive regulations which could force NGS to shut down and would leave the state without this vital source of power. Whether you are a farmer in Pinal County, a member of the Navajo Nation employed at the plant, or just an everyday citizen concerned about our state's water security, everyone should be focused on the potential job loss and economic impacts of proposed EPA mandates on the NGS.

For my part, I am holding congressional hearings at home in Arizona while also fighting in Washington to ensure the Obama Administration and federal government's burdensome, job-killing regulations will not continue to hurt Arizona and hinder our economic recovery.

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