House committee advances bill to ban EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gases

The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced legislation that would prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases to address climate change. H.R. 910, the “Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011,” would create an addition to the Clean Air Act, stripping greenhouse gas regulations from the EPA’s scope of control. It would also repeal several EPA actions to add new emissions restrictions. The committee approved the legislation favorably by a vote of 34-19.

H.R. 910 allows for an exception so that a carefully negotiated agreement between the Obama administration and automakers to lower greenhouse gases from vehicles can move forward. The standards within the agreement would only apply to vehicles from model years 2012 through 2016, and the legislation would restrict federal and state authorities from setting standards for succeeding model years.

Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., U.S. House majority leader, said at the markup that the House would vote on the bill before the beginning of spring recess April 18. The bill will likely pass in the House, but the potential for passage in the Senate is unknown and the President would most likely veto the bill if it did pass in the Senate.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., U.S. Senate minority leader, filed an amendment to Senate Bill 482, the Senate version of the aforementioned House bill that would overturn an EPA scientific determination that carbon dioxide represents threats to public health, and would also completely block regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

To view information on the committee markup or these bills, visit ASA’s legislative website, www.TakingTheHill.com.