Bill Flores on This Week in Washington

Statement

U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statements regarding important issues happening this week in Washington:

On Energy and Commerce Committee Votes to Promote 21st Century Energy Solutions:
"This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to clear eight bills out of the committee that will modernize our nation's energy infrastructure, environmental laws and enhance energy security. Included in those eight bills were two of my bills -- H.R. 806, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act, and H.R. 2910, the Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act."

"Our states and communities face the challenge of implementing two ozone standards at once, causing massive permitting uncertainty as infrastructure projects and expansion plans for businesses are put on hold. The Ozone Standards Implementation Act (H.R. 806) modernizes the previously unattainable ozone review cycle in a manner that reflects actual implementation reality. This bill, passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee, is a commonsense approach that protects American jobs and public health."

"The Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act (H.R. 2910) brings greater transparency and accountability to the natural gas permitting process for pipelines that cross state lines. I am pleased to see this bill successfully advance through our committee on a bipartisan basis so that all Americans are able to benefit from America's vast energy resources through lower energy costs. The United States is one of the top producers of natural gas in the world. This bill is an important step to make sure that we can continue to efficiently and safely deliver these resources to consumers, create jobs and bring clean, affordable energy to hardworking American families."

On the Trump Administration's Actions to Repeal the Harmful Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule:
"I was pleased to see the Environmental Protection Agency's and the Army Corps of Engineers' proposed rule to rescind the Obama administration's harmful attempt to regulate the ponds, creeks and streams that flow across farms and private property. This over-burdensome Obama-era rulemaking was nothing more than an attempt to add more federal intrusion and red tape to the everyday lives of hard working Americans. The Trump administration's recent action fulfills a promise made by my Republican colleagues and me last year when we voted to support legislation to overturn the Obama-era WOTUS rule."

On House Passage of the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act and Kate's Law:
"Dangerous sanctuary city policies around our nation have led to drastic inconsistencies in immigration enforcement, cities harboring dangerous criminals and an uptick in violent crimes resulting in the loss of the lives of American citizens. Today, I voted in support of two bills to bolster our nation's immigration laws, enhance our domestic security and protect innocent lives from violent criminals who are here illegally. H.R. 3003, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, deters sanctuary city policies that serve to protect criminal immigrants from federal immigration enforcement. H.R. 3004, Kate's Law, strengthens public safety by increasing penalties for deported felons who subsequently return to the United States."

On House Passage of the Protecting Access to Care Act:
"While I continue to work with President Trump and my Congressional colleagues to repeal and replace Obamacare, there are other important steps that we must take to make sure that health care is more affordable for all hardworking American families. This week, I voted in support of H.R. 1215, the Protecting Access to Care Act. This bill increases access to quality health care by placing caps on certain harmful aspects of excessive medical malpractice lawsuits. Texas is a leader in medical liability reform and our state's malpractice reform laws have proven to lower costs and improve the quality of care Texans receive from their health care providers. The Protecting Access to Care Act encourages these state initiatives and allows families throughout our nation to benefit from an efficient and lower-cost health care delivery system that is more focused on healing instead of lawsuit defense."

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