(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) went to the
floor to express her opposition to Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) resolution
that would block the Environmental Protection Agency from reducing greenhouse
gas emissions and protecting our families and environment. This resolution
would roll back critical regulation that would cut vehicle emissions and reduce
the demand for oil by 450 million barrels over the life of the program.
It would also undermine the Clean Air Act, and use politics to overturn an
agency’s scientific determination. The
resolution failed 47-53.
“It is especially disappointing to see this on the floor while images of
oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico and devastating the local environment and
economy continue to be shown on the nightly news,” said Senator Murray. “The
resolution we are debating today will take us back to the failed old policies
that have made our country more and more dependent on oil.”
Read the full text of her speech below:
Mr. President, I rise today to express my strong opposition to Senator Murkowski’s
resolution that would block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions
and protecting our families and environment.
This resolution is not based on science, and I feel strongly that it would
be a step in the wrong direction for our country.
We know greenhouse gas emissions are dangerous to the environment and to our
families’ health.
The science on this issue is clear. And it’s something people in my home
state of Washington take very seriously
Climate change would wreak havoc on so much of what our families treasure,
such as our forests, coasts, salmon habitats, and farmland.
Mr. President, the debate we should be having today ought to be how to best
move forward on this issue, not how to obstruct, stall, and maintain the status
quo.
What we should be discussing is how to pass a comprehensive climate and
energy bill.
A bill that would, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, support our
national security objectives, and unshackle our economy.
That would, tap the creative energy of our nation’s workers, create millions
of good, family-wage jobs, and make sure our workers continue leading the way
in the 21st century economy.
And Mr. President, I believe my colleague Senator Murkowski agrees with
these goals.
I know there are several proposals that have been put on the table on this
issue, but I don’t think we can afford to wait.
We can’t simply block the EPA’s endangerment finding and expect our
greenhouse gas emission problem to resolve itself.
Now, I know many industries have great concerns about being regulated.
I understand they would prefer a legislative solution. I would
too.
But we must keep moving forward to address this critical issue, and blocking
the EPA’s endangerment finding is a step backward toward the failed
environmental policies of the past.
Mr. President, the law on this issue is clear.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate
greenhouse gas emissions.
A lengthy process was conducted to determine this endangerment
finding.
And the public as well as the business community have been fully engaged
throughout.
In fact, the auto industry also opposes Senator Murkowski’s
amendment—because it would put them right back into a state of regulatory
uncertainty.
And if we look at vehicles alone, the national clean car standards as
proposed under the Clean Air Act will cut carbon pollution from vehicles by 30
percent.
In my home state of Washington, the transportation sector accounts for more
than 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
And increased fuel efficiency standards will, save families money at the
pump, and cut demand for oil by an estimated 450 million barrels over the life
of the program.
But all that is threatened by this resolution.
And Mr. President, I have to say—it is especially disappointing to see this
on the floor while images of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico and
devastating the local environment and economy continue to be shown on the
nightly news.
The resolution we are debating today will take us back to the failed old
policies that have made our country more and more dependent on oil.
And if the big oil companies and their lobbyists get their way on this
vote—families will continue spending more on fuel, and it will be a lot harder
for our economy to make the shift to cleaner and more efficient sources of
energy.
Mr. President, the longer we put off dealing with greenhouse gas emissions,
the more it will cost our economy, our environment and our health.
I strongly oppose this resolution that prioritizes big oil companies over
our families and small business owners.
And I hope we can work together to find real solutions to this critical
problem.
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