Rep Tim Walberg Votes In Favor of EPA Regulatory Relief Act

January 25, 2013
Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Tim Walberg voted in favor of the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2250), which passed the full House of Representatives 275-142 and heads to the U.S. Senate for further consideration. Below is a description of the legislation, which seeks to stop another new, costly, job destroying regulation from the Obama Administration:

“Michigan families and businesses are trying to survive this prolonged weak economy, but frustratingly the current Administration’s Washington bureaucrats continue to pile on cumbersome regulations that stand in the way of a robust economic recovery. The trillion dollar stimulus and government takeover of health care are prominent failures, but the daily barrage of new Washington regulations have a similar effect of standing in the way of job growth,” said Congressman Tim Walberg.

“I will continue working to remove unnecessary barriers from Washington that crush private sector job creation and the EPA Regulatory Relief Act is a good step,” added Walberg.

EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2250)- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently unveiled 276 pages of new, complex regulations on boilers and process heaters used by thousands of hospitals, farms, factories and universities. The new monitoring and control standards were divided into 11 subcategories and the EPA admits the new set of regulations will cost $5.8 billion immediately and an additional $2.2 billion annually. The Council of Industrial Boiler Owners’ HIS Global Insight Study estimates the cost of the new EPA regulation will cost $788 million in Michigan alone in 2011 and potentially risk up to 12,621 Michigan jobs. The cost to the forest products industry alone exceeds $5 billion. All of these additional costs will be passed onto consumers or result in fewer jobs. H.R. 2250 will halt these regulations and require the EPA to develop reasonable rules that consider economic factors and does not destroy jobs.

Organizations supportive of H.R. 2250 include:

  • American Chemistry Council
  • Michigan Forest Products Council
  • National Association of Manufacturers
  • Steel Manufacturers Association
  • The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
  • The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce