[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13622]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HEARING ON THE PRESIDENT'S POWER PLAN

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 
D.C. Circuit will hear arguments in the case challenging the merits of 
the President's so-called Clean Power Plan. My home State of Kentucky 
is one of more than two dozen States that have signed on to that suit, 
and I have been proud to lead efforts in support of the Commonwealth on 
this issue. In fact, I joined Chairman Inhofe, more than 30 other 
Senators, and more than 170 Representatives in filing an amicus brief 
to push back on the President's power grab.
  I was pleased that the Supreme Court stepped in earlier this year to 
issue an unprecedented stay of this plan until the Federal courts 
review it.
  In light of the court's hold on the plan, I wrote a letter 
encouraging the Governors of all 50 States to take advantage of this 
much-needed reprieve and to adopt a wait-and-see approach before 
complying with the plan's standards.
  As I noted then, the President's plan is yet another example of 
Executive overreach patterned after this administration's political and 
ideological agenda, rather than scientific evidence.
  This massive regulatory overreach would cause energy bills to 
skyrocket. It would strike at the most vulnerable. It would ship middle 
class jobs overseas. It would bring further harm to families like those 
in Kentucky who have been devastated by this administration's anticoal 
policies. And it would do little to nothing to actually achieve its 
intended purpose--reducing global emissions.
  This plan, which I have long believed may not be upheld in court, 
could place significant legal and economic burdens on our States. That 
is why I have encouraged them to take advantage of the court's stay as 
we await a final ruling.
  I look forward to today's hearing, which is an important step in 
determining whether the President's misguided plan will survive legal 
scrutiny.

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