U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Thursday introduced a bipartisan disapproval resolution to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Murkowski’s resolution–co-sponsored by 35 Republicans and three Democrats–comes in the wake of the EPA’s recent endangerment finding, which will result in damaging new regulations that endanger America’s economy.
“As the EPA moves closer and closer to issuing these regulations, I continue to believe that this command-and-control approach is our worst option for reducing the emissions blamed for climate change,” Murkowski said.
Murkowski, the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said the disapproval resolution is necessary to avoid the “economic train wreck” that would result from the EPA regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
Murkowski said EPA regulation could force businesses to cut jobs or close their doors for good; severely restrict domestic energy production, increasing our dependence on foreign suppliers and threatening our national security; make Housing less affordable; and consumer goods more expensive.
Murkowski filed her disapproval resolution pursuant to the provisions of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), incorporated into the Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996, and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
Upon introduction, a disapproval resolution is referred to the committee of jurisdiction, which in this case will be the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. If the committee does not favorably report the resolution, it may be discharged upon petition by 30 Senators. Once a disapproval resolution is placed on the Senate calendar, it is then subject to expedited consideration on the Senate floor, and not subject to filibuster.
Murkowski is not likely to gain enough support in the full Senate to block EPA action, and if she did, the measure could still be vetoed by the president. However, the resolution is likely to widen the political divide on climate change action in this election year.
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