[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 112 (Monday, June 28, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE 
   ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RELATING TO ``OIL AND NATURAL GAS 
SECTOR: EMISSION STANDARDS FOR NEW, RECONSTRUCTED, AND MODIFIED SOURCES 
                                REVIEW''

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 25, 2021

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that we work 
together to reduce harmful methane pollution as soon as possible. That 
is why I strongly support S.J. Res. 14 which will get America back on 
track in controlling methane pollution and leaks.
  Methane is a highly potent gas that, pound for pound, traps more than 
80 times as much heat on our planet in the short term as carbon 
dioxide. Plugging methane pollution leaks is good for our public 
health, as it can reduce the risk of asthma, heart attacks, and 
premature deaths. Reducing methane pollution is good for the climate, 
it's good for business, and it will create thousands and thousands of 
jobs across America. That's why there is broad consensus from energy 
companies, local communities, the tourism industry, labor groups, 
environmental organizations, environmental justice leaders, and faith 
leaders on methane pollution control.
  In fact, in 2019, when my Select Committee on the Climate Crisis was 
doing our broad outreach to develop recommendations for solving the 
climate crisis, this was an area where we reached broad consensus, as a 
wide range of stakeholders and scientists told us reducing methane 
pollution would be needed to help save our planet.
  Adopting today's resolution will restore common-sense safeguards to 
limit methane pollution from oil and gas production, as we reverse the 
Trump Administration's misguided efforts that stopped them. Restoring 
these safeguards is one of the recommendations we included in the 
Select Committee's Climate Crisis Action Plan. It's a modest and 
straightforward step in the right direction, but it's a very important 
one.
  Controlling dangerous methane pollution has broad support. A recent 
Morning Consult poll found that an overwhelming majority of Americans--
including 81 percent of Republicans--support congressional actions 
requiring oil and gas companies to regulate, check for, and fix methane 
leaks.
  And it is more important now than ever. This year, the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that, despite the 
COVID-19 pandemic and the various shutdowns around the globe, carbon 
dioxide and methane emissions surged in 2020, including the largest 
increase in methane emissions recorded since record-keeping began 
nearly four decades ago.
  Furthermore, we know that fossil fuels are playing an outsized role 
in this crisis. According to an analysis published by scientists from 
NASA and Stanford last year, fossil fuel-related methane emissions in 
the United States contributed approximately 80 percent of the total 
increase of methane for North America from 2006 to 2017. Stopping 
methane and other pollution from oil and gas production is an important 
step in solving the climate crisis. Even major oil companies--from BP 
America to Shell to ExxonMobil--support federal regulation of methane 
pollution. Building on the examples of Colorado, Wyoming and Ohio, a 
nationwide standard is critical to protect--Americans everywhere from 
harmful air pollution stemming from oil and gas production.
  Let's be clear: We must cut methane pollution to prevent catastrophic 
climate change. Today we have the opportunity to move in that direction 
by supporting this resolution. This an important step, and it is the 
least we can do. I want to thank my good friends Congresswoman DeGette 
and Congressman Peters for their outspoken advocacy on this matter, and 
I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Biden 
Administration to build on this progress.

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