Morgan Griffith

The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted today to advance legislation that would slow implementation of federal regulations on industrial boiler emissions. The bill, dubbed the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem. The bill goes next to the full House for a vote.

Griffith released this statement after the committee’s 36-14 vote:

“The EPA Regulatory Relief Act is a compromise. Like any compromise, the language of H.R. 2250 is not what I might have done if I were acting alone. However, this legislation brought together a group of legislators from both sides of the aisle with a reasonable approach and reasonable language.

“Businesses need certainty regarding regulation. They need to know that the EPA is going to get the rules right when imposing such expensive and comprehensive rules that could have real consequences for thousands of hardworking Americans. The EPA Regulatory Relief Act would keep many jobs in the manufacturing sector from leaving the country, particularly in the 9^th District of Virginia, and protect jobs by giving the EPA sufficient time to craft truly achievable rules for industrial boilers. Investments required by these rules are irreversible. For those businesses that cannot make those investments, and decide to stop producing their product at a particular location, the job losses are irreversible.

“As H.R. 2250 heads to the House floor for consideration, I look forward to continuing the fight to roll back unreasonable regulations and keep the focus on protecting American jobs.”