Congressman Robert Hurt Votes to Reform the Environmental Protection Agency

 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released the following statement after voting in favor of three bills to reform the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): H.R. 1422, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act, H.R. 4012, the Secret Science Reform Act, and H.R. 4795, the Promoting New Manufacturing Act:

“As I travel around Virginia’s Fifth District, I regularly hear how unnecessary bureaucratic red tape is hindering job growth and making life more difficult for hardworking Virginians.  I often hear from Fifth District Virginians about the senseless regulations imposed by the EPA, which often fail to meet the standards for transparency and accountability demanded by Americans.  I share my constituents’ frustrations and was pleased that this week, the House passed three bills to reform the EPA, reducing these unnecessary regulations.

 

“From reining in the EPA’s Science Advisory Board to prohibiting the EPA from proposing regulations that are not based on identifiable and available science to ensuring greater transparency and timeliness in obtaining necessary manufacturing permits, these bills will help reduce burdensome government regulations that harm job creation and decrease opportunities for Americans.  I was proud to support these commonsense bills and see them pass the House with bipartisan support.  I urge our colleagues in the Senate to consider these bills and work with us to implement these necessary reforms.”

 

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·         The EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act establishes qualifications for members, reinforces independence of the Science Advisory Board,  facilitates public participation in the Board’s advisory activities, and limits the advice given by the Board to scientific determinations, rather than policy direction.

·         The Secret Science Reform Act prohibits the EPA from proposing regulations unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support the action is specifically identified and publicly available.

·         The Promoting New Manufacturing Act would ensure greater transparency and timeliness in obtaining the permits necessary for new manufacturing.