Inhofe Statement on Earth Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:

Kristina Baum - 202.224.6176

Donelle Harder - 202.224.1282

Inhofe Statement on Earth Day

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement today commemorating Earth Day 2015:

"On the 45th anniversary of Earth Day, we should celebrate the great strides our nation has made in improving our environment. Our air is the cleanest it has ever been. Since 1970, we have reduced air pollution by 68 percent, and I am proud to have been involved in policies that have helped achieve this, such as being an original cosponsor of the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 and original sponsor of the Clear Skies Act of 2003. These enhancements were achieved even while energy consumption in the U.S. has increased by 44 percent during the same period of time. In addition, our nation also made great strides in providing citizens with access to clean water. Today, 92 percent of the U.S. population is being served by community water systems with water that meets drinking standards. Our nation continues to enhance water quality. By the end of 2013, the E.P.A. (EPA) - in conjunction with the states- was successful in removing 11,754 specific causes of water body impairments identified in 2002.

"Unfortunately, the Obama administration continues to downplay these successes, instead focusing its rhetoric and resources towards trying to solve the theory of manmade global warming with extremely costly regulations. A majority of Americans do not buy into the administration's scare tactics, and they continue to be more concerned with issues such as the economy, job creation, and the ever-growing size and scope of the federal government. Yet the Obama administration continues to push forward on climate regulations that would expand the size of government, cost our economy at least $497 billion plus thousands of jobs, and make our electricity grid less affordable and less reliable. Despite all of this, the president's climate regulations will fail to make measureable impacts on preventing climate change.

"In 2015, the Environment and Public Works Committee will make advancements for the benefit of our environment, including working to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act and conducting rigorous oversight of the EPA, ensuring the agency's regulations are based in reality and on sound science. We will also thoroughly consider the advancements our environment has made and weigh the economic cost of new regulations that the Obama administration is putting forward. This includes giving attention to the administration's suggested ozone standard, which could cost our country upwards of $1.7 trillion and 1.4 million in lost jobs, and its suggested Waters of the U.S. rule, which would expand the federal government's control of land and water beyond what was intended by the Clean Water Act. On Earth Day, we should put aside the scare tactics of the far left, celebrate our achievements, and put our focus on investing our resources in a way that will continue to advance our environment as well as our economy."