[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 16, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5826-S5827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              S.J. Res. 53

  Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I rise in support of the Congressional 
Review Act resolution of disapproval of the Trump administration's so-
called affordable clean energy rule, which really should be called 
President Trump's dirty power plan or unclean energy rule.
  To be clear, I believe that the Environmental Protection Agency has 
an urgent moral responsibility and economic imperative to reduce the 
global warming pollution from powerplants, which are by far the largest 
stationary source of carbon pollution on our planet. I also believe 
that those of us in Congress must act now to protect the American 
people from the dangers posed by poor environmental quality and the 
worsening impact of climate change. That is why we are holding this 
vote tomorrow--to send a clear message to this administration and to 
take a strong stand for the American people.
  Truth be told, I am not typically a staunch supporter of the 
Congressional Review Act. It is a blunt procedural tool, and I prefer 
to embrace a better way to express our disapproval of the 
administration's failure to address one of our Nation's major sources 
of carbon pollution.
  For Senate Democrats, this vote is about holding supporters of this 
shortsighted, irresponsible policy accountable for surrendering 
America's global leadership and for jeopardizing the health of our 
planet and the promise of our children's future.
  Nearly 4 years ago, the Clean Power Plan set the first Federal 
targets to reduce carbon emissions from our Nation's powerplants. The 
Clean Power Plan set meaningful but achievable carbon limits for fossil 
fuel powerplants and gave flexibility and time for States to meet those 
standards. It was not a one-size-fits-all deal. It provided quite a bit 
of time and flexibility for States to try to figure out how they would 
go about meeting those standards in their own way. This 
administration's alternative to the Clean Power Plan--President Trump's 
unclean power plan--allows States to decide whether to regulate harmful 
emissions. At the same time, this rule will, at best, have essentially 
no impact on powerplant carbon emissions--no impact.

[[Page S5827]]

  Let me say that again. At best, this rule will have essentially no 
impact on powerplant carbon emissions. At worst, it will increase 
emissions by extending these plants' lifespans and allow them to burn 
more coal each year.
  Today our Nation's utilities are already on track to meet and surpass 
the emission reduction goals set by the Clean Power Plan way ahead of 
schedule. All the while, the vast majority of Americans are now 
enjoying lower utility bills, not higher utility bills, and more than 3 
million Americans went to work today in the clean energy sector, which 
includes jobs in renewable energy generation and energy efficiency. 
Yes, you heard that right. There are more than 3 million jobs in the 
clean energy sector today.
  The President's dirty power plan does not build on this progress. It 
does not promote affordable or clean energy. What it actually does is 
attempt to scam or fool the American people into believing that the EPA 
is doing something to stem the tide of climate change while taking us 
backward--backward, not forward.
  By repealing and replacing the Clean Power Plan, the Trump 
administration is ensuring that our country forgoes a vast number of 
economic opportunities of the clean energy future. Instead of building 
on the Obama-Biden administration's forward-looking environmental 
standards, the Trump administration, with its dirty power plan, is 
refusing to see or accept that the global economy's transition to clean 
energy sources is already underway. Instead of mustering the political 
courage to lead on the issue of climate change, yet again, the Trump 
administration is walking away from the bold action we need to address 
this climate crisis.
  This failure of leadership will make it all the more likely that the 
worsening storms and flooding, record-setting rainfall, and volatile 
temperatures we are already seeing all over the world will continue to 
be our reality.
  So where do our Republican colleagues stand? Tomorrow we will find 
out.
  Sadly, for too many of them, President Trump's dirty power plan is a 
sufficient plan to address carbon pollution. In truth, it is not. It is 
a failure of vision and a retreat from global leadership, and it is 
time for Congress--Democrats, Republicans, and maybe an Independent or 
two--to hold this administration accountable.
  That is why Senate Democrats are calling for a vote on this issue. 
Our government needs to provide the right market signals today if we 
are going to create a clean energy tomorrow, and we need to take a 
stand for a stronger economy. We need to lead the world to act on 
climate change, and we need to take a stand for clean air and 
environmental quality.
  We can do that tomorrow by standing together against President 
Trump's dirty power plan, and I hope a number of colleagues will join 
us by doing just that.
  It is a false statement to say we can't have cleaner air, less threat 
to our planet, and create jobs. We can do both, and we need to.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to complete my 
remarks prior to the vote for Ambassador Barrett.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Hyde-Smith). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.