Resolutions Introduced to Reverse U.S. EPA's Endangerment Finding

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and House Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Joe Barton (R-Texas) this week filed resolutions under the Congressional Review Act that, if passed by Congress and signed by the President, would nullify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's December 7 finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. In a floor speech Monday, Sen. Murkowski said that the endangerment finding "opens the doors to a sweeping and convoluted process" under which EPA would be required to issue economy-wide command and control regulations to control greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.  EPA is "obligated and compelled" to regulate emissions, Murkowski said, adding that regulation under one part of the Act compels regulation under other parts of the Act.  As a result, Murkowski said that businesses would be forced to cut jobs, domestic energy production would be restricted, and housing and consumer goods would become more expensive.  AGC issued a statement last week expressing concern about EPA's endangerment finding on the construction industry. For more information, contact Karen Lapsevic at (202) 547-4733 or lapsevick@agc.org.