Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has introduced a bipartisan disapproval resolution to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Murkowski's resolution – co-sponsored by 35 Republicans and three Democrats – comes in the wake of the EPA's December 2009 scientific finding that carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants threaten human health and the environment.
‘As the EPA moves closer and closer to issuing these regulations, I continue to believe that this command-and-control approach is our worst option for reducing the emissions blamed for climate change,’ says Murkowski.
Murkowski filed her disapproval resolution pursuant to the provisions of the Congressional Review Act.
‘This is a thinly veiled attempt to let the nation's biggest global warming polluters off the hook, literally removing them from the Clean Air Act,’ says Emily Figdor, federal global warming program director for Environment America, a state-based, environmental advocacy organization. ‘Environment America urges senators to vigorously oppose Sen. Murkowski's efforts and instead work to pass comprehensive legislation to repower America with clean energy and reduce global warming pollution.’
Upon introduction, a disapproval resolution is referred to the committee of jurisdiction, which, in this case, will be the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. If the committee does not favorably report the resolution, it may be discharged upon petition by 30 senators. Once a disapproval resolution is placed on the Senate calendar, it is then subject to expedited consideration on the Senate floor and is not subject to filibuster.
SOURCES: Office of Lisa Murkowski, Environment America
