[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 46 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCONNELL (for himself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. 
        Blackburn, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Braun, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Budd, Mr. 
        Cassidy, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Cramer, Mr. 
        Crapo, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Daines, Ms. Ernst, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. 
        Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, 
        Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Lee, Ms. Lummis, 
        Mr. Marshall, Mr. Moran, Mr. Mullin, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Paul, 
        Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Risch, Mr. Romney, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Schmitt, 
        Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. 
        Sullivan, Mr. Thune, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Wicker, 
        and Mr. Young):
  S.J. Res. 65. A joint resolution providing for congressional 
disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule 
submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to 
``Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 
Particulate Matter''; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, last week, in the 
State of the Union Address, President Biden bragged that he was taking 
``the most significant action on climate ever in the history of the 
world.''
  What he failed to mention is that his radical climate policy almost 
always comes at the expense of American workers and job creators.
  Just recently, the Biden administration rolled out yet another job-
killing mandate that would impose more unilateral economic pain here at 
home. This one goes well beyond the regulatory standards of most of our 
European allies, let alone our top strategic competitor, China.
  The EPA wants to tighten limits on fine particulates in the air, 
known as PM2.5, despite its own data showing that concentrations have 
actually gone down by over 40 percent in the last two decades. The vast 
majority of these emissions come from sources like wildfires and dust 
from agriculture and roads that are not easily contained and, in some 
cases, impossible to control. We are talking about a climate boogeyman 
conjured out of smoke and dust.
  The EPA's new standard is so strict that when it takes effect, 30 
percent of U.S. counties, including many in my home State, would 
immediately find themselves out of compliance, grounding manufacturing 
growth to a halt. Meanwhile, the job of actually implementing the EPA's 
new mandate will fall to the States that are forced to inherit all the 
costs of this bad policy--from offshore manufacturing jobs to greater 
reliance on China to higher prices when Americans can least afford it.
  In order to keep up with President Biden's new mandate, American 
manufacturers would be forced to import raw materials, like concrete 
and steel, for virtually any construction project--the kind of projects 
that grow our economy and support good-paying jobs. In other words, the 
Biden administration is saying, in no uncertain terms, that they are 
willing to make our economy more--more--dependent on foreign supply 
chains just to appease the green activists in this country.
  So it is no surprise that State leaders are pushing back on this 
ruling. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is leading a lawsuit 
with West Virginia to challenge the EPA's mandate; and so far, nearly 
half of our States have signed on. Unlike the Biden administration, 
local and State leaders understand just how damaging this new rule 
would be for workers and for job creators back home.
  So today, I am happy to announce that Senate Republicans stand ready 
to do our part. Today, I am introducing a resolution under the 
Congressional Review Act that would prevent the EPA from plowing ahead 
with this senseless regulatory overkill.
  I am thankful to more than 40 colleagues who have joined my 
resolution, so far, as cosponsors. Senate Republicans will continue to 
stand with American workers and job creators, especially when the Biden 
administration tries to make their work so much harder.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 65

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress 
     disapproves the rule submitted by the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency relating to ``Reconsideration 
     of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate 
     Matter'' (89 Fed. Reg. 16202 (March 6, 2024)), and such rule 
     shall have no force or effect.

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