McConnell Supports Rollback of Obama-Era Anti-Coal Regulation
‘I look forward to the administration rolling out a new policy that upholds the rule of law, keeps the EPA within its statutory role, and encourages American energy reliability and affordability. Just one more win for all the Americans who live and work in communities where affordable, homegrown American energy sources like coal still matter a lot. Another win for states like Kentucky. It's nice to have an administration that isn't narrowly focused on just the big, blue urban areas, but looks ou
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the end of a harmful Obama anti-coal regulation that will be finalized later today:
“The previous administration left a sprawling mess of regulation tangled throughout the federal government and the U.S. economy. Sweeping left-wing visions were dreamt up here in Washington and forced on farm families, domestic manufacturers, and small businesses throughout the country with little regard for the consequences. The reach of regulators grew longer and longer. And the burden on American prosperity became heavier and heavier.
“So, naturally, rolling back much of this mess and putting Washington D.C. back in its place has been a major priority for Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration. But some actions were so egregious and so likely illegal, that the courts put a halt to them before we could even reform or repeal them. As my colleagues recall, implementation of the so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ was frozen by a Supreme Court stay more than three years ago in 2016.
“The Obama Administration’s War on Coal had already done plenty of damage in places like my home state of Kentucky. But at least this additional hammer blow on so many Americans‘ livelihoods was held off. It would have weaponized a federal agency to bury energy producers and all those who depend on them under one-size-fits-all regulations with duplicative mandates and unrealistic timelines. And as production of the most affordable and reliable energy available to American families dried up, it would have left higher electricity costs in its wake.
“Higher domestic power prices would mean fewer American jobs here at home, with no meaningful effect on global emissions. Any rational observer would have concluded that this regulation was all pain for no gain -- just good American jobs being shipped overseas. This was a bad idea that many of us here in the Senate fought tooth and nail. Back in 2013 and 2014, after President Obama’s EPA Administrator refused my request to come meet with Kentuckians, I held hearings in Kentucky about the negative impacts the plan would have. I worked with governors to hold off on implementation. I helped spearhead an amicus brief in the legal proceedings, and led on legislation to overturn the rule.
“So unwinding this proposed economic self-sabotage and sticking up for working families has been a top priority of mine and many of my colleagues for years. And fortunately it has also been a major priority for the Trump Administration. Last year, they announced a proposed rule to do away with it. And later today, the EPA will be finalizing it and making it official.
“I look forward to the administration rolling out a new policy that upholds the rule of law, keeps the EPA within its statutory role, and encourages American energy reliability and affordability. Just one more win for all the Americans who live and work in communities where affordable, homegrown American energy sources like coal still matter a lot. Another win for states like Kentucky. It's nice to have an administration that isn't narrowly focused on just the big, blue urban areas, but looks out for all of our country.”
Related Issues: Coal, Regulations
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