[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 12, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E358-E359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ELECTRICITY SECURITY AND AFFORDABILITY ACT

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                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3826) to 
     provide direction to the Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency regarding the establishment of standards 
     for emissions of any greenhouse gas from fossil fuel-fired 
     electric utility generating units, and for other purposes:

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Chair, I agree with my dear friend Chairman 
Whitfield that we must provide clarity on EPA's authority to regulate 
greenhouse gases. However, as we have seen all too often in the 113th 
Congress, the legislation before us does nothing to address the 
underlying problem. Instead, this bill simply blocks the EPA from 
taking action without providing any alternative solution.
  My first problem with this legislation is that it creates a peculiar 
and entirely new process for regulations under the Clean Air Act. This 
bill would take a long-established and reasonably well understood and 
turn it upside down to the great detriment of all of those in industry 
who are seeking certainty. This bill would then eliminate the 
delegation of rulemaking authority to EPA and set up Congress as a 
regulatory agency. Traditionally, Congress has given EPA the authority 
to develop regulations to address particular issues. I'm concerned that 
we may be setting a troubling precedent that allows regulations to be 
set without extensive public comments or technical data and input from 
industry and stakeholders.

[[Page E359]]

  Second, as I have seen time and time again this Congress, H.R. 3826 
attempts to address an issue without dealing with the underlying law or 
providing an alternative solution. This bill does not amend the Clean 
Air Act to address the regulation of greenhouse gases but rather 
abolishes over 40 years of precedent by establishing an entirely new 
regulatory process. If Congress truly wants to legislate on this issue 
and pass legislation that can be signed by the President, let's put 
forward a comprehensive, bipartisan solution with both industry and 
other stakeholder support. I don't see anything in H.R. 3826 that 
approaches compromise or resembles an honest solution to the problems 
I've outlined.
  Once again we have a bill before us that will pass with little 
bipartisan support, won't pass the Senate, and won't be signed by the 
President. While I understand this is an election year, we should be 
coming together to find workable solutions that can make meaningful 
change instead of creating more partisan rhetoric.

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