(Courtesy of the Congressional Western Caucus) 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul A. Gosar D.D.S. (AZ-04), Executive Vice Chairman Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-03), Chief Defense and Interior Officer Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-02), Chairman Emeritus Rep. Steve Pearce (NM-02), Chairman Emeritus Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01) and Western Caucus members Speaker Paul Ryan (WI-01), Rep. Raul Labrador (ID-01), Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14), Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-06), Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Rep. Jody Hice (GA-10), Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-05) released the following statements as a result of President Donald Trump signing the American Energy Independence Executive Order:

“As President Trump stated today and we all know, ‘States and local communities know what is best for them.’ The Obama Administration did everything in its power to trample on that authority and dictate wildly out-of-touch mandates from Washington, D.C.,” said Chairman Gosar. “With the signing of today’s American Energy Independence Executive Order, the previous regulatory regime that stamped out innovation, killed jobs, and consistently moved the goalposts to untenable distances for the energy sector, is one step closer to being erased. Today’s action from President Trump proves that environmental protections and economic development are not mutually exclusive goals. Western Caucus looks forward to continuing to work with President Trump, Administrator Pruitt, Secretary Zinke and Secretary Perry to deliver commonsense energy solutions that are good for the American people.”

Congressman Tipton remarked, “The Obama Administration did everything in its power to pick winners and losers in American energy production. That era is now over, and I am glad that the administration is taking action to grow jobs and preserve hardworking Americans’ access to affordable and reliable energy.  I look forward to advancing more policies that support an all-of-the-above approach to U.S. energy.”

“President Obama’s Coal Power Plan was just another example of expensive, excessive big-government regulation, resulting in fewer jobs and increased energy bills. By signing this Executive Order, President Trump is following through on his promise to reduce burdensome regulations and promoting an all-of-the-above energy platform,” said Congressman Stewart. “Coal along with natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, and geothermal will continue to serve as an important part of our national energy infrastructure.”

“The Obama Administration continuously attacked our nation’s production of reliable energy resources, which crippled economic opportunity in New Mexico and across the nation. Today’s Executive Order by President Trump reverses these job-killing regulations and reaffirms our commitment to expanding domestic energy production. This will reduce government overreach and return the power back to the states where it belongs. New Mexicans deserve affordable energy and access to good-paying, energy jobs that are created through this industry,” said Congressman Pearce. “I applaud our President for revitalizing our nation’s energy plan by eliminating the unnecessary war on coal, the BLM’s hydraulic fracturing and venting and flaring rules, and the EPA’s methane rule. Now, we can begin moving forward towards an ‘all of the above’ energy plan that creates jobs and better sustains low energy prices for all Americans. New Mexico will once again have the opportunity to become a leader in our nation’s energy development.”

Congressman Bishop said, “This order begins the reversal of a number of harmful and ideologically-driven policies. We will work with the President to add statutory permanence to prevent future administrations from resurrecting this harmful regulatory agenda.” 

“Today’s executive order is based on a fundamental truth: Energy drives our economy. President Obama disregarded this, and the result was a barrage of regulations that crippled America’s energy industry. That is all in the past now,” said Speaker Ryan. “President Trump’s executive order will help America’s energy workers and reverse much of the damage done. In particular, I hope that this action will result in full repeal of the Clean Power Plan, which ravaged coal country and was temporarily blocked by the Supreme Court last year. We are committed to repealing regulations that hurt jobs and drive up the cost of energy. To build on this, the House will act on legislation this week that ensures any new EPA regulations are rooted in science.”

Congressman Labrador remarked, “I appreciate President Trump’s leadership in rolling back some of the previous administration’s most disastrous energy policies.  In Idaho, as in so many other states, the Obama Administration’s environmental extremism has killed jobs and hurt the competitiveness of our economy.  We still have a lot of work to do to make America energy independent, and as a member of the Natural Resources Committee, I look forward to working with President Trump and his team.” 

“President Trump’s American Energy Independence Executive Order will increase the efficiency of American businesses in the Energy Sector,” said Congressman Weber. “The focus of the order will right the wrongs of the CPP – a plan currently challenged by 150 entities, and which never had bipartisan support in the House. The President is using his authority to cut the CPP’s burdensome regulations to allow the EPA to focus on its original mission.”

Congressman Biggs said, “The Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan, Social Cost of Carbon, CEQ guidance, and methane rule were prime examples of federal overreach and executive fiat threatening countless jobs around the country. For a number of years, Arizona fought against these harmful regulations enacted by unelected bureaucrats, and I am pleased to see oversight and accountability restored through President Trump’s executive order. I look forward to working with our newly confirmed EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt and my colleagues in Congress to continue to roll back these detrimental, job-killing regulations as we seek to revitalize the American economy.”

“Today’s executive order is another positive step towards putting the United States back on the path to becoming energy independent with an all-of-the-above strategy that benefits entrepreneurs, consumers and families across the country. I applaud President Trump’s commitment to rolling back the onerous Obama Administration regulations, like the Clean Power Plan, that were imposed with huge economic costs identified but without clearly defined environmental benefits, and look forward to continuing these efforts in Congress.” remarked Congressman Emmer.

“I am pleased that the President is fulfilling his promise to help America become energy independent. With this Executive Order, President Trump has rolled back the Obama Administration’s most harmful environmental regulations—including the Clean Power Plan, which has cost many American jobs and has driven up energy costs for American families. The time is long overdue to relieve the burdens of the Obama Administration’s restrictive energy policies and return power to the states,” said Congressman Lamborn. “I look forward to a new energy strategy that unleashes our vast natural resources and creates new jobs to boost the American economy.”

“I am happy to see the President move to undo some of the burdensome, job-killing regulations implemented by the previous Administration.  Let’s remember that these unreasonable regulations did not come into force because of new laws, but simply because of more executive action.  That is why I can applaud the removal of these burdens by executive action now. Under President Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency had gotten out of control – unfairly targeting certain sectors and threatening entire industries,” said Congressman LaMalfa. “This Executive Order pulls back from the EPA’s overly burdensome Clean Power Plan, lifts a moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands, while also rolling back several other Obama-era EPA regulations that overstep the agency’s authority and place an undue burden on our economy and job growth. This will unleash our country’s energy industry and help enable America to become truly energy independent.”

“The damaging energy mandates from the last eight years have hindered America’s energy independence for far too long,” said Congressman Hice. “President Trump’s new executive order is the first step toward eradicating regulatory barriers while delivering an all-of-the-above energy strategy that stimulates innovation, development, and security. It is vital to our national and fiscal security that we restore economic freedom by utilizing cutting edge technology to unleash affordable, reliable, and clean supplies of energy. I applaud President Trump for his dedication to prioritizing energy independence and a bustling economy for the benefit of all Americans.”

“President Trump is taking action to keep the lights on in our homes, our factories, and throughout our economy's supply chain. America will have a stronger future by developing, not neglecting, the abundant energy resources our land offers. The rationale behind this action is what Republicans have been arguing for years: environmental protections and economic growth are not mutually exclusive,” said Congressman McCarthy. “Innovation and technological changes have proven our ability to advance energy development in a cleaner and safer way. We are a resilient people who power a resilient economy. Unleashing our energy potential will strongly support jobs and healthier lives for everyone."

“Today’s executive action will eliminate needless federal overreach and allows workers and energy producer to compete and succeed on a level playing field,” Congressman Thompson said. “The Clean Power Plan had serious flaws and needs to be reevaluated. Although states like Pennsylvania have had significant carbon reductions, the proposed plan would have negatively affected thousands of jobs and nearly 30 percent of our electrical generation throughout the Commonwealth, without significant environmental benefits.”

Background:

Today, President Donald J. Trump signed the Energy Independence Policy Executive Order.

The text of the Executive Order can be found HERE.

(Courtesy of the White House)

This Executive Order calls for an immediate re-evaluation of the so-called Clean Power Plan.

Perhaps no single regulation threatens our miners more than this crushing attack on American industry.

• Second, it directs the Secretary of the Interior to lift the federal coal leasing moratorium.
• Third, it lifts the job-killing restrictions on the production of oil, natural gas, clean coal and shale energy.
• Fourth, it withdraws several Social Cost of Carbon directives.
• Finally, it returns power to the states – where it belongs.
  • States and local communities know what is best for them, and they are the ones we should empower to decide.

More specifically, President Donald J. Trump’s Energy Independence Policy Executive Order reverses the regulations on American jobs and energy production.

• President Trump’s Executive Order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to suspend, revise, or rescind four actions related to the Clean Power Plan (CPP) that would stifle the American energy industry.
  • President Trump’s Executive Order directs the Attorney General to seek appropriate relief from the courts over pending litigation related to the CPP.
• President Trump’s Executive Order rescinds seven Executive actions centered on the previous administration’s climate change agenda that have acted as a road block to energy independence.
• President Trump’ Executive Order directs agencies to use the best available science and economics in regulatory analysis.
  • It disbands the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases.
  • It withdraws six technical documents produced by the IWG, the work of which will no longer represent Government policy, because it did not follow sound guidelines governing cost-benefit analysis.
• President Trump’s Executive Order directs all agencies to conduct a review of existing actions that harm domestic energy production and suspend, revise, or rescind actions that are not mandated by law.
  •  Within 180 days, agencies must finalize their plans.   

More information on the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan

• The Clean Power Plan has serious legal and policy flaws. For years, energy producing states have argued that this plan is an overreach by EPA, interfering with the states’ sovereign rights. As directed by this Executive Order, EPA will review the CPP to ensure that the agency is abiding by the Clean Air Act and respecting the rule of law.
  • A bipartisan majority in the 114th Congress rejected the CPP, in the form of S.J. Res. 23 and S.J. Res 24, legislation which vetoed by President Obama.
  • In February 2016, the Supreme Court took the unprecedented step to stay the implementation of the CPP. The stay is for good reason as the CPP was being challenged by over 150 entities including 28 states, 24 trade associations, 37 rural electric co-ops, and 3 labor unions.
  • The previous Administration’s Clean Power Plan could cost up to $39 billion a year and increase electricity prices in 41 States by at least ten percent, according to NERA Economic Consulting.
  • The Clean Power Plan would cause coal production to fall by 242 million tons, according to the National Mining Association.
  • 27 states, 24 trade associations, 37 rural electric co-ops, and 3 labor unions are challenging the Clean Power Plan in Federal court.