Palmetto State News

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has joined Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and 42 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a formal challenge to the Biden administration’s regulations intended to shut down American power plants through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval.

The resolution follows the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) issuance of final rules that impose stringent emissions requirements on existing coal-fired power plants and newly constructed gas-fired power plants. This approach, aimed at reducing emissions, mirrors an attempt under President Obama that was overturned by the Supreme Court in West Virginia v. EPA.

“The Biden administration is committed to dismantling America’s energy sector. They’re willing to drive up costs for Americans and send thousands to the unemployment line all because they’re beholden to a radical, far-left base,” said Senator Scott. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in standing up for our nation’s economy, energy independence, and the livelihoods of hardworking Americans.”

Ranking Member Capito emphasized the importance of the resolution: “With this Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval, every member of Congress will have the opportunity to protect America’s energy future, heed the warnings of our nation’s electric grid operators, and adhere to the precedent set by the Supreme Court. This vote is an important one because the Biden administration’s Clean Power Plan 2.0 makes it clear it will stand with climate activists, regardless of the harm that is sure to be done to families, workers, and communities across West Virginia and the rest of the country."

Congressman Troy Balderson (R-Ohio-12) led 138 colleagues in introducing an identical resolution in the House of Representatives.

The resolution also has support from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) along with Senators Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis(R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall(R-Kan), Markwayne Mullin(R-Okla), Lisa Murkowski(R-Alaska), Pete Ricketts(R-Neb), Jim Risch(R-Idaho), Mike Rounds(R-S.D), Marco Rubio(R-Fla), Eric Schmitt(R-Mo), Rick Scott(R-Fla), Dan Sullivan(R-Alaska), Thom Tillis(R-N.C), Tommy Tuberville(R-Ala), J.D Vance(R-Ohio) , Roger Wicker( R-Miss) , Todd Young( R-Ind).

The full text of the resolution can be found here.