Congressman Jim Bridenstine Objects to Unilateral Green House Gas Commitment
On November 11th, President Obama unilaterally committed the U.S. to even steeper greenhouse gas reductions. Ironically, these new greenhouse gas emission reductions will have a negligible effect on global temperatures. The President has shown that he will stop at nothing to implement the radical green agenda his far left supporters demand.
Speaking with the Chinese President, President Obama, without the consent of Congress, committed the United States to a lopsided agreement that will have major ramifications on our economy. While China agreed for their emissions to peak in 2030 – not a reduction, but merely to stop increasing – the President unilaterally committed America to bring its greenhouse gas emissions down to levels 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. This is a major step beyond his previously stated goal of a 17 percent reduction from 2005 levels by 2020. Once again, President Obama strengthens our competitors while weakening the United States.
Obama’s new, more aggressive target constitutes a war on fossil fuels and, tragically, an additional burden on those least able to afford higher energy bills. Oklahoma enjoys electricity rates that are 20 to 25 percent less than the national average because more than half of the electricity generated by Oklahoma power plants comes from coal. Some coal-based plants are already being forced to shutter or convert to more expensive fuels, which will cause electricity prices to spike. I regularly hear from mayors and other local officials in my district that the coming increase in the price of electricity makes it more difficult to recruit businesses.
The President’s ever more extreme green agenda hinders job growth at a time when participation in the workforce is at an all-time low. Those extreme policies will increase consumer costs while paychecks are already stretched thin by EPA rules dramatically increasing costs and discouraging economic growth.
Congress must do everything in its power to stop this insanity. With Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, we can use government funding legislation to prohibit taxpayer dollars from going to the EPA to develop or enforce future rules. We can also invoke the Congressional Review Act to overturn previously implemented rules.
Oklahomans can rest assured that they have allies in Congress. Senator Inhofe will likely chair the committee with oversight over the EPA. In the House, I will continue to fight this imperial presidency and its politically-driven EPA as long as they pursue policies that diminish the well-being and prosperity of Oklahomans and all Americans.