Environment and Public Works Committee Archive
From 2003 to 2013, Senator Inhofe served as either the Chairman or the Ranking Republican Member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. In this capacity, Senator Inhofe focused on building our nation’s critical infrastructure and fighting federal government over-regulation. His accomplishments include the enactment of the 2005 and 2012 federal surface transportation reauthorization which ensured that Oklahoma drivers were not paying more in gasoline taxes than they received in highway improvement funding each year. These two laws have streamlined highway project review, enabled states to have more control, and slashed federal programs and red tape delay by over 66%. Senator Inhofe’s infrastructure accomplishments also include the enactment of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act which enhanced Oklahoma’s waterway commerce and drinking water infrastructure. Finally, Senator Inhofe has used his leadership role to address over-regulation. Americans are clearly over-taxed and over-regulated, bigger government is required to enforce the greater degree of regulation, and bigger government means bigger budgets and higher taxes. Senator Inhofe fought multiple regulations which simply increase government intrusion into our lives and business and to raise our cost of living and taxes. However, Senator Inhofe is best known for his fight against cap-and-trade global warming federal legislation would only result in the largest tax increase in American history making every day needs like gasoline and electricity significantly more expensive for consumers. This library documents Senator Inhofe’s work through statements and reports.