Texas Insider Report: Washington, DC – Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today voted to protect Americans from billion-dollar Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations that could increase energy prices and eliminate jobs. The Energy Consumers Relief Act, H.R. 1582, would require EPA to submit a report to Congress on specific energy prices and job impact before finalizing any energy-related rule costing more than $1 billion.
It also prohibits EPA from finalizing a rule if the Secretary of Energy determines the rule would cause significant adverse effects to the economy. The bill passed the House by a vote of 232-181.
“This Administration’s EPA continues to propose rules, that by their own estimates are the most costly in history, yet the research on the benefits of these rules is unclear,” Congressman Olson said. “What is clear is that overregulation kills our economy, destroys American jobs, and raises energy prices on American families and businesses.
“Americans deserve full transparency on rules that will cost them billions of dollars. That’s why we’re taking action in the House to protect American families and workers. This bill cuts the bureaucratic red tape that stifles our economy and ensures there is more transparency in EPA’s most expensive energy rules,” Congressman Olson concluded.
There are a range of major billion-dollar energy rules under development at EPA and expected to be finalized in the president’s second term, including costly new regulations for new and existing power plants and new standards that will increase the cost of gasoline.
