TL/DR –
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair, has criticized the Biden-Harris administration for its ‘rush-to-green’ energy policies, claiming they are causing inflation and harming economic stability. She also raised concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s misuse of its largest-ever single grant of $60 billion, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and an additional $41.5 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act. The EPA was criticized for wasteful spending, a lack of transparency, and for imposing stringent regulations on coal and natural gas power plants while also delaying processing of carbon capture permits.
Washington, D.C. —
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, shed light on the Biden-Harris administration’s rush-to-green energy policies in a recent subcommittee hearing. She emphasized the economic impact of such policies, with inflation hitting over 20%.
Massive New EPA Budget
McMorris Rodgers highlighted the $1.2 trillion ‘Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’ signed in November 2021, of which $60 billion was granted to the EPA. She also pointed out the ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ of August 2022, allocating an additional $41.5 billion to the EPA, despite the act failing to curb inflation.
Learning From the Past
She raised concerns about the EPA’s history of waste and poor management, citing the Obama administration’s $787 billion taxpayer funding which led to problems with oversight and compliance. She mentioned that since Biden took office, the EPA has received $109 billion in additional funding and expanded its workforce to over 15,000 employees.
EPA’s Radical Tax and Spend Agenda
McMorris Rodgers criticized the EPA’s radical green agenda, particularly the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund—a $27-billion pot of taxpayer money posing a risk of waste and fraud. She touched upon the EPA’s stringent regulations on coal and natural gas-fired power plants, along with issues in processing carbon capture permits required to comply with these regulations. She expressed concern over the lack of oversight provided by the ‘Inflation Reduction Act’.
McMorris Rodgers concluded her remark emphasizing on the need for greater transparency and accountability from the EPA, and how she looks forward to shedding more light on EPA activities during the hearing.
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