Update on Senator Murkowski's EPA Disapproval Resolution

Senator Murkowski negotiated a unanimous consent agreement on Tuesday, May 25, to extend the deadline of her bipartisan resolution disapproving the EPA’s effort to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act (S.J. Res. 26). A vote on the resolution is scheduled for June 10. The resolution requires a 51-vote majority to pass the Senate.

Policy Statement on Senator Murkowski EPA Amendment

Sen. Murkowski believes that climate change is a real threat that must be addressed.  She is also steadfast in her belief that Congress is the only agency in the United States with the power to tackle the problem in a responsible manner.   Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving toward regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.  Written in 1977, the Clean Air Act was never intended to regulate climate change.  The economy-wide implications of regulating greenhouse gases are not compatible with the blunt tools afforded the EPA under the Act.

To help stop economically devastating regulations from going into effect at a time of great economic uncertainty, Murkowski introduced an amendment last fall that would stop for one-year any EPA greenhouse gas regulations from stationary sources - such as factories, dry cleaners, and other businesses - from moving forward.  Her amendment was carefully crafted to allow the EPA to continue with its plans to regulate tailpipe emissions from cars.  It would only halt regulations for stationary sources for one year.

Though Murkowski's attempt to call-up her amendment this past fall was blocked, she remains committed to safeguarding the economy from EPA rules and regulations while attempting to move forward on a clean energy bill and have an honest discussion about the best ways to address climate change. Murkowski believes that we must look at all possible options for regulating climate change, from a carbon tax to cap and trade, while doing our best to ensure that any legislation enacted will ensure meaningful emissions reductions and economic security.