Press Releases

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), has issued this statement on the passage of H.R. 2042 – the Ratepayer Protection Act of 2015:

“Last year, the EPA proposed a new set of regulations on existing power plants, which would dramatically affect our economy if implemented. The Obama Administration has been doing its best to convince the American people that these new standards would achieve great progress for our nation, calling the proposal the ‘Clean Power Plan.’

“What the Administration does not want us to know is that these standards would wreak havoc on our economy and inflict enormous costs on the American consumer. According to the National Economic Research Associates, these regulations would increase electricity prices in my home state of Georgia by 12 percent.

“The average American household already spends about $15,000 a year to comply with federal regulations, and it has been radical proposals like these which have caused our economy to stagnate throughout this Administration.

“The EPA promotes these regulations with the promise that they would cut 30 percent of carbon pollution by the year 2030. My state has already reduced its carbon emissions by 33 percent from 2005 to 2012. Why is the Administration pursuing these unrealistic regulations when Georgia and other states have already dramatically reduced their emissions levels?

“H.R. 2042 will halt the rule’s compliance deadlines until litigation on the rule has been completed. This bill will also allow the governor of any state to opt out of the rule’s requirements, if their state’s electricity rates would increase significantly. This common-sense piece of legislation is essential to bringing U.S. environmental policy back into the real world and preserving our ability to compete in the global economy.”

H.R. 2042 passed the House by a vote of 247 to 180.

Rep. Loudermilk delivered a speech in support of H.R. 2042, which can be viewed HERE.