Price Acts to Block Administration's Job-Killing EPA Regulations

Press Release

Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (GA-06) issued the following statement after introducing a simple, commonsense amendment to H.R. 5538 - the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017. Congressman Price's amendment would stop any major rules from taking effect from the date of enactment of the underlying bill through the end of FY 2017.

"To put it bluntly, the Obama Administration has run amok for far too long," said Congressman Price. "It has tried to accomplish through executive fiat that which it has failed to do through the legislative process. The American people are fed up with the Administration trying to ram through its liberal agenda. This amendment takes action to halt any last-minute major rules -- particularly rules coming from the EPA. It will give individuals and businesses across the country much needed certainty in the final months of President Obama's term in office."

Background:

If passed into law, H.R. 5538 -- the FY 2017 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill would:

Provide annual funding totaling $32.1 billion, $64 million below FY 2016, for the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies;
Prohibit funding for implementation of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule;
Provide flexibility for states to implement new ozone standards;
And stop environmental regulatory overreach.

Similar to a bill introduced by Congressman Price earlier this year, H.R. 4956, the End Executive Overreach Act, this amendment takes aim at an out-of-control regulatory agenda emanating from Washington D.C. This amendment, adopted by voice vote, halts major rules and regulations coming from federal agencies, like the EPA, funded by this appropriations bill. A major rule is described in subparagraph (A) of section 804(2) of title 5, USC as "any rule that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget finds has resulted in or is likely to result in an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more."

Source