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Statement

Representative Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed into law Johnson's Congressional Review Act (CRA) H.J. Resolution 38, overturning the Office of Surface Mining's recently issued coal job-killing regulation known as the so-called "Stream Protection Rule." President Trump signed the resolution this afternoon in the Roosevelt Room in the White House with Johnson at his side. This is Johnson's eighth piece of legislation signed into law:

"Today, President Trump signed my job-saving resolution into law, which officially repeals the Interior Department's onerous Stream Protection Rule, which jeopardized thousands of coal jobs, and placed a majority of America's coal reserves off limits. The rule, which served as the centerpiece of the Obama Administration's War on Coal, was released by the previous administration as the moving trucks pulled up in December, even after the American people sent a clear message to the Washington Beltway - more regulation from overreaching bureaucracies is not the answer.

"President Trump made a promise to coal miners and their families during his campaign, and today he fulfilled that promise. I was honored to be by his side at the White House as he signed my resolution. Working together, we are protecting coal jobs by preventing this Obama-era rule from taking effect -- and importantly -- preventing the issuance of any similar rule in the future.

"The poorly named "Stream Protection Rule' was not designed to protect our nation's streams. In fact, existing state and federal laws already exist to protect America's natural water resources. Instead, this rule was a disguised effort to regulate the coal mining industry out of business through overly burdensome regulations, a stated goal by President Obama during his first campaign. Our streams are very important, and this CRA helps ensure that those who care most about our streams in coal country -- the officials and people who actually live there -- and depend on coal for their livelihood -- will still have a say in how to protect both their water and their jobs. On behalf of coal families in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, and across the country, I thank President Trump for recognizing my efforts."

Background: Congress, through the passage of a joint resolution known as the Congressional Review Act, and signed by the President, may overturn a regulation administered by a previous administration, within 60 legislative days of a new Congress.

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