Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, blasted Republicans on the House floor for proposing legislation that would strip federal agencies' authority to enforce nearly every public health, safety, and environmental protection related to drilling and drilling impacts. H.R. 2728 would block agency enforcement of the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, oil and gas operations in National Parks and Wildlife refuges, and other critical safety regulations.
"The latest Republican attack on critical health, safety, and environmental protections is being sold as a so-called "states' rights bill' that would only block a proposed fracking rule. But it is written so poorly, and so broadly, it would essentially strip the federal government's authority to enforce nearly any regulation on the books related to drilling and drilling impacts. It would truly allow companies on public lands to drill anywhere, at anytime, with no rules. Republicans have wasted yet another day with extreme, campaign talking point legislation that has no chance in the Senate," DeFazio said.
H.R. 2728 passed the Republican-held House on nearly a party line vote, 235 to 187.