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Washington, DC– This week Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) voted for several bills designed to help facilitate states’ implementation of ozone air quality standards and to oppose the Administration’s recent oil and carbon tax proposals.

H.R. 4775, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act, creates a process for states to implement ozone air quality standards in a timely manner and provides reasonable compliance deadlines. New ozone regulations were issued in 2008, but before states had a chance to implement those standards, the Obama Administration issued a second layer of ozone regulations, making it nearly impossible for a significant portion of the country to reach attainment.

 “Overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has become a hallmark of this Administration, and I have consistently fought back against their radical environmental agenda. Now these unelected Washington bureaucrats are at it again, creating confusion for states by issuing new ozone regulations before the last round of standards have been implemented. Some reports have concluded that this could be one of the most costly regulations ever handed down, and it would certainly have an enormous impact on businesses and municipalities across the country,” said Congressman Guthrie. “The bill I supported today provides a common-sense solution: implement the first regulation before piling on the second.”

The House also passed H.Con.Res 112, a resolution expressing Congress’ opposition to the President’s proposed $10 tax on every barrel of oil and H.Con.Res 89, which expresses the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.

“Today I joined my colleagues in sending a strong message to the Administration opposing a per-barrel tax on oil and any tax on carbon,” added Congressman Guthrie. “The Administration failed to pass cap-and-trade when their own party controlled both chambers of Congress, and today’s votes send a strong message that the American people will continue to fight against the EPA’s assault on affordable and reliable energy.”

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