[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 51 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ENERGY TAX PREVENTION ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 910) to 
     amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any 
     regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking 
     into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to 
     address climate change, and for other purposes:

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Chair, I rise today to discuss my unwavering support 
for legislation this body considered on this week, and passed by large 
margin yesterday on this floor. Unfortunately I was detained during the 
final passage vote for H.R. 910, and was unable to record my support 
for this legislation. I wish to do so now.
  For the last two years, Lisa Jackson's Environmental Protection 
Agency, EPA, has waged a war on the state of Texas that is destroying 
jobs and hampering economic growth. Texas was one of the last states 
hit by the recession in 2008, in large part due to its robust energy 
industry, with thousands of jobs connected to oil and gas exploration 
and production. Since taking office in 2009, President Obama has made 
it clear that he will do everything he can to interfere with any state 
using its own initiative to grow the economy and create jobs. In Mr. 
Obama's America, only the federal government can create jobs. We know 
this to be a failed experiment, yet he is still intent on doing all he 
can to continue to hamper the efforts of Texans to create jobs and grow 
the economy.
  From the ``flex-permitting'' plan that Texas' Council on 
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has had implemented for over two decades, 
to greenhouse gas permitting, which will destroy industry all over the 
state and the country, the EPA is holding up permits and stifling 
growth at every turn.
  For these reasons, and many others, I wholeheartedly support H.R. 
910. I was a cosponsor of this legislation from the very beginning. 
Twice during its consideration in the House Energy & Commerce 
Committee, I voiced my support, and was pleased to vote to pass it out 
of committee and have it considered on the House floor.
  I regret circumstances detained me from the vote on final passage 
yesterday evening. I hope, however, there is no doubt that, had I been 
able to be present during the vote, I would have voted in the 
affirmative, and continue to support his legislation without 
reservation.

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