June 10, 2010

Senate Vote Demonstrates Bi-Partisan Concern with EPA Approach to GHG Regulation

National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Hal Quinn issued the following statement in response to today’s vote by 47 senators in support of the bi-partisan SJ Res. 26 by Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Blanche Lincoln (D- Ark.) that would have denied the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act:

“NMA thanks Sen. Murkowski for her tireless efforts in support of SJ Res. 26. She brought strong and reasoned leadership to this cause and reasserted congressional responsibility on a matter of broad national significance.

“The 47 senators voting for the measure introduced by Sens. Murkowski and Lincoln sensibly concluded that the U.S. economy should not be placed in further jeopardy through regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The Act is a blunt instrument ill-suited for regulating ubiquitous emissions from millions of U.S. sources. Further, the Act does not allow for appropriate consideration of the impact of regulation on the U.S. economy and employment.

“While today’s vote was short of what was needed for passage, the concern demonstrated today should be sufficient to caution EPA against an ill-considered program that will only add to the economy’s miseries. For that reason, NMA will continue to move forward with other efforts to inject the voice of the elected representatives of the American people in this matter of such widespread consequence.”