Balance Jobs with Environmental Regulations

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, (KY-01), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, today spoke in favor of two bills he is moving through the House of Representatives that would require the EPA to revise newly proposed rules in order to balance the need to protect the environment with protection of jobs and job growth in the current economic climate.

"This is about protecting jobs as well as about protecting health," said Whitfield in remarks from the House floor. "As you know, our economy is struggling right now. The [Energy and Power Subcommittee] testimony shows quite clearly that if we allow these regulations to remain in effect, we're going to lose a lot more jobs."

The first bill managed by Whitfield, H.R. 2681, would affect cement producers who are facing stringent new rules from EPA that would require producers to make costly improvements in order to be in compliance. H.R. 2681 would direct EPA to propose new standards and timelines that protect public health and the environment without unreasonably driving up the price of cement and sacrificing badly needed jobs. This legislation would save 20,000 jobs tied both directly and indirectly to the cement producing industry. H.R. 2681 passed the House and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The second bill being managed by Whitfield, H.R. 2250, is similar to H.R. 2681 but would apply to proposed EPA standards for industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers, process heaters, and incinerators. Many communities across the nation would be affected by this proposed rule from EPA as boilers are used by countless hospitals, colleges and other large scale buildings. According to one study, H.R. 2681 would save 230,000 jobs - more than 2,900 of which are in Kentucky. The House continues to debate H.R. 2250 today.

H.R. 2250 is expected to pass the House and will then go to the Senate for consideration.

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