While alarms sound about the dramatic House bill to abolish the EPA, another bill introduced in late January holds major potential for environmental damage. Stopping the EPA Overreach Act (H.R. 637) proposes to gut regulations for clean air and water as well as the endangered species act under the premise that the EPA and no other federal agency have any authority to regulate greenhouse gases. This would also block efforts to address climate change. Legislators know that voters view the EPA favorably, so abolishing the agency isn’t gaining much support, although it stirs up opposition. The Overreach Act gives the illusion of being reasonable and has the support of 119 co-sponsors so far.
The EPA Overreach Act would amend the Clean Air Act and block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases because previous bills authorizing the EPA to address pollutants didn’t name them.
"The term 'air pollutant' does not include carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, or sulfur hexafluoride."
In addition, other measures in the bill limit the EPA’s authority. One emphasizes jobs as a higher priority than public and environmental health. Any proposed EPA regulations with negative consequences to employment must be approved by Congress. Two of Obama’s climate policies regulating carbon dioixde emissions from power plants and on methane emissions from the oil and gas industry would be nullified. Consequences to the Endangered Species Act from this bill would limit listing decisions and the ability to designate critical habitat.
As intended by Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), the climate change denier who introduced it, the bill would make it nearly impossible for the federal government to restrict industrial emissions of greenhouse gases to fight climate change. Nearly all Republican Representatives from Texas along with some from other states recognized this and signed on as co-sponsors. The bill has been referred to seven House committees although none has yet taken it up. And even if the bill passes in the House, it likely would be filibustered in the Senate with all Democrats and maybe some moderate Republicans opposing it.
But just as with Jason Chaffetz’s public lands grab bill (HR 621) that he withdrew due to public opposition, the time to speak up against this bill is now, before it begins the process of moving through committees to a House vote.