Washington, D.C.—Today, the Electricity Security and Affordability Act (H.R. 3826) passed out of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power. Rep. David B. McKinley (R-WV) is an original co-sponsor of the legislation. This bipartisan bill addresses new job-killing regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aimed at shutting down existing coal-fired power plants and preventing news ones from being built.

“We’ve heard from business after business telling us that excessive regulations are holding back job growth,” said Rep. McKinley. “Businesses no longer feel confident about their economic future in this sluggish economy yet the Obama Administration fails to listen and continues to bypass Congress with its ever-changing government regulations.”

“On Friday we learned from the most recent jobs report that people still cannot find work as a record 92 million Americans are not working,” added McKinley. “For every job created in December, 5 people left the workforce.”

“The Obama Administration continues to green light regulations that are killing our economy,” said McKinley. “Removing the largest source of America’s electricity will lead to higher utility costs and the loss of jobs for millions. Putting more unachievable regulations on coal-fired power plants when the technology is still not there jeopardizes our nation’s economic recovery.”

“Reasonable standards are accepted as part of our country’s economic structure; but when these regulations become excessive, are not supported by science and are not cost effective, Congress should have a voice in their implementation,” said McKinley.