[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S3]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MEMORANDUM OF DISAPPROVAL

  S.J. Res. 23 is a joint resolution providing for congressional 
disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5 of the United States Code of a 
rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relating to 
``Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, 
Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility 
Generating Units.'' This resolution would nullify EPA's carbon 
pollution standards for new, modified, and reconstructed power plants. 
Accordingly, I am withholding my approval of this resolution. (The 
Pocket Veto Case, 279 U.S. 655 (1929)).
  Climate change poses a profound threat to our future and future 
generations. Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, a primary greenhouse 
gas, are higher than they have been in at least 800,000 years. In 2009, 
EPA determined that greenhouse gas pollution endangers Americans' 
health and welfare by causing long-lasting changes in the climate that 
can have, and are already having, a range of negative effects on human 
health, the climate, and the environment. We are already seeing the 
impacts of climate change, and established science confirms that we 
will experience stronger storms, deeper droughts, longer wildfire 
seasons, and other intensified impacts as the planet warms. The 
Pentagon has determined that climate change poses immediate risks to 
our national security.
  Power plants are the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in 
our country. Although we have limits on other dangerous pollutants from 
power plants, the carbon pollution standards and the Clean Power Plan 
ensure that we will finally have national standards to reduce the 
amount of carbon pollution that our power plants can emit.
  The carbon pollution standards will ensure that, when we make major 
investments in power generation infrastructure, we also deploy 
available technologies to make that infrastructure as low-emitting as 
possible. By blocking these standards from taking effect, S.J. Res. 23 
would delay our transition to cleaner electricity generating 
technologies by enabling continued build-out of outdated, high-
polluting infrastructure. Because it would overturn carbon pollution 
standards that are critical to protecting against climate change and 
ensuring the health and well-being of our Nation, I cannot support the 
resolution.
  To leave no doubt that the resolution is being vetoed, in addition to 
withholding my signature, I am returning S.J. Res. 23 to the Secretary 
of the Senate, along with this Memorandum of Disapproval.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, December 18, 2015.

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