Rep. Rick W. Allen, US Representative for Georgia's 12th District | Facebook Website
Rep. Rick W. Allen, US Representative for Georgia's 12th District | Facebook Website
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has advanced H.J. Res. 117, a Congressional Review Act Joint Resolution of Disapproval introduced by Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12). The resolution aims to nullify the Biden Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) final rule for Fine Particulate Matter, known as PM 2.5 standards.
Before the vote to advance H.J. Res. 117, Congressman Allen delivered remarks advocating for the resolution:
"Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word to speak in favor of H.J. Res. 117, my Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to nullify the finalized PM 2.5 standards by the Environmental Protection Agency."
Allen cited a letter from the National Association of Manufacturers supporting his CRA and criticized the EPA's decision to lower the standard for fine particulate matter from 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter.
"The last review was completed in 2020 where the EPA decided to retain the PM 2.5 standard at 12 micrograms per cubic meter," he said. "Instead of following the five-year requirement, the Biden EPA decided in 2021 to prematurely reconsider the standard and finalize a rule this year to drastically lower it."
Allen argued that this new standard is problematic as it nearly matches background levels in many states and localities, complicating permit issuance for new or expanding facilities.
"This rule would have disastrous impacts on the economy and manufacturing nationwide," he stated, referencing his experience in construction business management.
While acknowledging environmental protection as crucial, Allen contended that current standards already achieve significant reductions in PM 2.5 levels: "According to EPA’s trend report, annual levels of PM 2.5 have fallen 29 percent between 2000 and 2021."
He concluded that lowering these standards further would hinder economic development projects within the United States: "All this finalized rule does is push manufacturing and economic development projects out of the United States and deprive economic opportunity for people who need it most."
"I urge my colleagues to vote yes on my CRA," he added before yielding back his time.
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