U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Contact: Vaughn Jennings 202.225.2211

Washington, Dec 8, 2009 - Today, Congressman John Sullivan took action aimed at derailing the Obama Administration’s plans to further regulate greenhouse gas emissions, a move seen by many as a way to move forward with their highly controversial cap and tax legislation.  Sullivan signed a discharge petition to H.R. 391, legislation he is a cosponsor of, which prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide, under the Clean Air Act.  The discharge petition needs support from 218 members of Congress in order to force a vote on the House floor.  

“The Obama Administration’s announcement yesterday that carbon dioxide endangers public health is absurd – they are resorting to heavy handed government mandates to impose a massive national energy tax on American families and businesses.  If the EPA’s push to regulate carbon dioxide as a dangerous pollutant under the Clean Air Act is allowed to go into effect without Congressional intervention, it will give the agency unprecedented regulatory authority over almost every foreseeable aspect of our economy, burdening thousands of small businesses with unnecessary and costly compliance expenses and higher energy costs for American families.  With our national unemployment rate at 10%, this is the worst possible time for the Obama Administration to impose unnecessary job killing, energy mandates on the American people.”