WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell in an effort to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing a new rule tightening fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standards, which would further halt the growth of America’s manufacturing industry. Senator McConnell, along with 45 Senate Republicans, introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to prevent the EPA from implementing this new mandate.
The Biden Administration’s EPA is tightening PM2.5 emissions for the first time in a decade, despite its own data reporting that concentrations have fallen by over 40 percent since 2000. Additionally, the vast majority of PM2.5 emissions come from sources like wildfires and dust from agriculture and roads that are not easily contained and – in some cases – impossible to control.
“The Biden administration’s radical green agenda contradicts science— U.S. air quality standards are the highest they’ve ever been. The president believes they need to be higher still, much to the detriment of American-owned manufacturing,” said Risch.“The president’s unnecessary rule must be stopped before it destroys more of Idaho’s industrial jobs and capabilities.”
“The Biden Administration is so focused on its extreme regulatory agenda that it is willing to consistently ignore reality,” said Crapo. “The United States has some of the cleanest air in the world and continues to make strong progress on many fronts to reduce its emissions footprint. Yet, the Administration’s proposed solution is to regulate American businesses out of business, with little to no health or environmental benefit. We must stop this rule from threatening jobs in domestic manufacturing, energy, agriculture, forestry and natural resource-based industries across Idaho and the country.”
“The Biden Administration rolled out yet another job-killing mandate that would impose more unilateral economic pain at home. This one goes well beyond the regulatory standards of most European allies, let alone our top strategic competitor, China. The EPA’s new standard is so strict that upon its effect, 30 percent of U.S. counties, including many in my home state of Kentucky, would immediately find themselves out of compliance, grounding manufacturing growth to a halt. In order to keep up with President Biden’s new mandate, American manufacturers would be forced to import raw materials, like concrete and steel, for virtually any construction project. The kind of projects that grow our economy and supply good-paying jobs,” said McConnell. “Today, I’m introducing a resolution under the Congressional Review Act that would prevent the EPA from plowing ahead with this senseless regulatory overkill. Senate Republicans will continue to stand with American workers and job creators – especially when Biden Administration tries to make their work harder.”
Joining Risch, Crapo, and McConnell on the CRA resolution are Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tedd Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
