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| Rep. Adrian Smith |
While President Obama touted his cap-and-trade policies in Paris this week, the House was working to stop bureaucratic overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Obama administration's costly regulatory agenda is a leading threat to our economy and domestic energy production, but the President continues to prioritize red tape and executive orders.
At the COP21 conference on Tuesday, President Obama stated about climate change, "In some ways, it's akin to the problem of terrorism and ISIL." Following the horrific terror attacks which took hundreds of lives in Paris, Beirut, Egypt, and Mali – and now an attack within our own borders by a California couple who pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIS – the President's statement is disturbing at best.
Rather than focusing on a plan to destroy ISIS, President Obama continues to make his regulatory agenda the top priority for his administration. In Congress, we remain committed to standing against his executive overreach.
This week, the House passed two joint resolutions under the Congressional Review Act disapproving of the President's harmful regulations on domestic power. These regulations go above and beyond existing efforts by the power industry, and in many cases set unrealistic goals. As we enter the winter months, the last thing Nebraskans need is more red tape driving up their energy bills. These resolutions of disapproval already passed the Senate and will now go to the President's desk.
To meet America's energy needs and protect our economy, we need an all-of-the-above energy policy. The House passed the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act on Thursday to boost domestic energy production. This legislation would reduce regulations currently blocking energy projects and innovation, strengthen the security of our electric grid, and cut down on government waste in existing programs.
Renewable fuels play an important role in diversifying our energy supply and giving consumers more choices, but the EPA continues to stand in the way of their development. On Monday, the EPA announced its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule, which falls billions of gallons short of the Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) set by law. Unfortunately, this rule is yet another example of the EPA disregarding Congress to accomplish its own agenda.
Record corn harvests have shown the supply exists, but the EPA undermines consumer choice at the fuel pump with its arbitrary regulations. Earlier this year, I introduced a bill to extend to E15 fuel the same waiver from EPA volatility standards already granted to E10, allowing it to be sold year-round.
I also continue to lead the charge in the House to stop the EPA's Waters of the U.S. rule, or WOTUS. This rule is one of the largest abuses of executive power in modern history, posing a significant threat to Nebraska's economy. While the Obama administration defiantly pushed forward with WOTUS, I began the process of blocking the rule by introducing a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act.
The companion resolution, introduced by Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, passed the Senate last month. I am hopeful the House will soon consider this legislation and send it to the President’s desk. We must use every available tool to prevent this devastating rule from ever being implemented.
While the Obama administration pushes for more red tape and bureaucratic control over our country's energy supply, I will continue standing against the President's distorted priorities and working on solutions to strengthen American energy.
At the COP21 conference on Tuesday, President Obama stated about climate change, "In some ways, it's akin to the problem of terrorism and ISIL." Following the horrific terror attacks which took hundreds of lives in Paris, Beirut, Egypt, and Mali – and now an attack within our own borders by a California couple who pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIS – the President's statement is disturbing at best.
Rather than focusing on a plan to destroy ISIS, President Obama continues to make his regulatory agenda the top priority for his administration. In Congress, we remain committed to standing against his executive overreach.
This week, the House passed two joint resolutions under the Congressional Review Act disapproving of the President's harmful regulations on domestic power. These regulations go above and beyond existing efforts by the power industry, and in many cases set unrealistic goals. As we enter the winter months, the last thing Nebraskans need is more red tape driving up their energy bills. These resolutions of disapproval already passed the Senate and will now go to the President's desk.
To meet America's energy needs and protect our economy, we need an all-of-the-above energy policy. The House passed the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act on Thursday to boost domestic energy production. This legislation would reduce regulations currently blocking energy projects and innovation, strengthen the security of our electric grid, and cut down on government waste in existing programs.
Renewable fuels play an important role in diversifying our energy supply and giving consumers more choices, but the EPA continues to stand in the way of their development. On Monday, the EPA announced its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule, which falls billions of gallons short of the Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) set by law. Unfortunately, this rule is yet another example of the EPA disregarding Congress to accomplish its own agenda.
Record corn harvests have shown the supply exists, but the EPA undermines consumer choice at the fuel pump with its arbitrary regulations. Earlier this year, I introduced a bill to extend to E15 fuel the same waiver from EPA volatility standards already granted to E10, allowing it to be sold year-round.
I also continue to lead the charge in the House to stop the EPA's Waters of the U.S. rule, or WOTUS. This rule is one of the largest abuses of executive power in modern history, posing a significant threat to Nebraska's economy. While the Obama administration defiantly pushed forward with WOTUS, I began the process of blocking the rule by introducing a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act.
The companion resolution, introduced by Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, passed the Senate last month. I am hopeful the House will soon consider this legislation and send it to the President’s desk. We must use every available tool to prevent this devastating rule from ever being implemented.
While the Obama administration pushes for more red tape and bureaucratic control over our country's energy supply, I will continue standing against the President's distorted priorities and working on solutions to strengthen American energy.
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