The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a review of the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a move praised by 11 members of the Senate Western Caucus. The Endangerment Finding, implemented during the Obama administration, allowed for federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Its review is being described by supporters as a significant step in reducing regulatory burdens on American energy producers.
Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) said, “The era of weaponizing environmental policy against American workers is over. President Trump and Administrator Zeldin have chosen prosperity, energy reliability, and common sense over the climate cult’s radical job-killing agenda. Today’s action is a major deal and recognizes that Wyoming coal, oil, and gas are vital American resources, not emissions to be regulated out of existence by unelected Washington bureaucrats.”
Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) stated, “For too long, radical environmentalists and their allies in the federal bureaucracy have waged war on our resource economy through overregulation, costing us jobs and forcing us to rely on overseas adversaries for energy that we can produce better and cheaper here at home. I’m grateful to President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for their commitment to unleashing American energy, lowering costs, and ensuring our energy communities in Montana have the support they need to power our nation and restore American energy dominance on the world stage.”
Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) commented, “I have repeatedly pushed back on unilateral moves by federal agencies that lock out the voices of Idahoans and saddle consumers and small businesses with unnecessary, burdensome costs. The EPA’s historic deregulatory move puts decision-making back in the hands of elected members of Congress, where we can have robust debate about the merits of sweeping environmental policy.”
Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) added his view: “The endangerment finding was based on political expediency – not scientific standards. The Biden and Obama administrations routinely abused this rule as an excuse to roll out red tape that destroyed jobs across America. I applaud the Trump administration for working to rescind this rule and for restoring commonsense at the Environmental Protection Agency.”
“The endangerment finding was based on political expediency – not scientific standards,” said Senator John Barrasso (R-WY). “The Biden and Obama administrations routinely abused this rule as an excuse to roll out red tape that destroyed jobs across America. I applaud the Trump administration for working to rescind this rule and for restoring commonsense at the Environmental Protection Agency.”
“President Trump and the EPA are taking historic action to cut costly and burdensome energy regulations,” said Senator Jim Risch (R-ID). “Eliminating Obama-Biden era endangerment findings and EV mandates is a commonsense step to save taxpayer dollars, enhance consumers’ freedom of choice, and expand American-made energy.”
“Clean air and water is not a partisan issue, it’s something every American wants and expects,” said Senator John Boozman (R-AR). “The EPA, under a sweeping interpretation of its authority in the Obama and Biden eras, pushed overreaching and misguided regulations that harmed economic growth at the expense of all Americans. I applaud Administrator Zeldin and the Trump administration for correcting course and restoring common sense to protect the environment and health in a balanced and lawful way.”
“The time for weaponizing climate change at the expense of hard-working Americans is over,” said Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO). “This was never about science; it was about a left-wing ideology wrapped into an administrative state. I am proud to see President Trump and Administrator Zeldin make this historic deregulatory move prioritizing American manufacturing over the far-left’s job killing agenda and bring back jobs here at home.”
“Science and risk-based analysis are the foundation of effective policy,” said Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE). “An Obama-era ideological determination has been used to justify burdensome regulation and constrain consumer choice for 16 years. Since then, Democrats have twisted the law. They’ve warped science to push their political goals. This is a win for consumer choice, good government, and sound science.”
Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) also weighed in: “President Trump and Lee Zeldin have taken a sledgehammer to ridiculous, burdensome regulations and have unleashed American energy. This single act by Administrator Zeldin will have a monumental impact on our energy independence and will allow businesses to thrive again,” he said.“I’m grateful for the historic leadership of this administration and look forward to the years ahead as we work together to make America energy dominant again.”
“For 15 years, the EPA under Democratic administrations have used agency’s 2009 ‘endangerment finding’ to target American energy producers and kill good-paying jobs in this vital economic sector,” said Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). “I fought against this EPA power grab as Alaska’s attorney general and I’ve continued to fight against it and similar EPA actions as Alaska’s Senator. I applaud Administrator Zeldin for rescinding this erroneous finding that has underpinned so much of the far-left’s ridiculous and harmful ‘Green New Deal’ policies and sweeping ‘climate’ mandates. This is great news for American energy and jobs; for American energy security; and for energy-producing states like Alaska.”
Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) remarked: “EPA Administrator Zeldin and President Trump certainly got this one right. They listened to voice of reason clarified role endangerment finding in our energy environmental policy,” he stated.“Congress voters Supreme Court certainly all repeatedly weighed rejected heavy-handed command control approach Obama Biden administrations mandated when relied upon flawed endangerment finding used upend American Power plants United States really only responsible very small declining percentage global greenhouse gas concentrations Their contribution frankly dwarfed emissions large polluting countries like China India where building new power plants very rapid pace And way their don’t technology actually reduces greenhouse gas emissions like do Increasing costs decreasing grid reliability kneecapping economic competitiveness real danger here avoid Thanks again recognizing excellence encourage North Dakotans Americans but really want make heard throughout public comment period draft new rules”.
EPA Administrator Zeldin provided further detail: “With this proposal, the Trump EPA is proposing to end sixteen years of uncertainty for automakers consumers In our work so far many stakeholders told me Obama Biden EPAs twisted law ignored precedent warped science achieve preferred ends stick families hundreds billions dollars hidden taxes every year We heard loud clear concern GHG emissions standards themselves not carbon dioxide which Finding never assessed independently real threat livelihoods If finalized rescinding Endangerment Finding resulting regulations would $1 trillion or more hidden taxes businesses families”
U.S Secretary Energy Chris Wright added: “Thanks President Trump’s leadership America returning free open dialogue around climate driving focus back following data Today’s announcement monumental step toward returning commonsense policies expand access affordable reliable secure improve quality life all Americans”
