Sen. Jay Rockefeller Goes After Clean Air Act

Introduces legislation that would delay EPA authority to regulate air pollution

Contacts

Liz Judge, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500, ext. 237

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) dropped a bill that would shield the nation’s biggest polluters from limitations on their carbon dioxide pollution for another two years.

This legislation was introduced just a few hours after a bill from Sen. John Barrasso’s (R-WY) that would restrict the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate air pollution under a series of environmental laws.

The latest bills are a harbinger of upcoming clean air attacks that will give dirty polluters a break at the expense of public health. The following statement is from Earthjustice legislative representative Stephanie Maddin:

“Sen. Rockefeller is standing in line with Sen. Barrasso as an advocate for the nation’s dirtiest industrial polluters, giving them a free pass to pollute our air without restraint. It is unacceptable that our elected leaders are pushing for legislation that prioritizes corporate polluter special interests and costs Americans clean air.

“Defending the Clean Air Act means defending our economy, our health and our nation’s bottom line. This new legislation is simply a continued effort on the part of dirty energy companies who throw around money on Capitol Hill to get out of air pollution controls that protect our public health protections.”

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