During remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) spoke about Republican's efforts to reverse environmental regulations imposed during the Biden Administration.
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Mr. President, over the last four years, the Biden administration put our energy security
00:04on a dangerous trajectory.
00:07The administration sharply restricted oil and gas development.
00:11It threatened the closure of existing power plants with burdensome new regulations, even
00:16as our electric grid struggled to keep up with demand.
00:21President Biden attempted to force the widespread adoption of electric cars, despite the incredible
00:27strain that would place on our already shaky power grid.
00:31And that's just to start with.
00:33The administration unleashed a veritable blizzard of Green New Deal regulations as it attempted
00:40to push through its far-left agenda.
00:42Mr. President, the American people called for a new direction this past November.
00:46The Trump administration and the Republican majorities in Congress have wasted no time
00:51getting to work to provide relief from burdensome regulations, especially when it comes to energy.
00:56Last month, the EPA announced 31 significant deregulatory actions.
01:01Among these are actions addressing the Biden administration's Good Neighbor Rule and Clean
01:05Power Plan 2.0.
01:09Both of these regulations were designed to effectively force fossil-fuel-powered power plans to close,
01:15a dangerous goal at a time when we are already running low on the electricity we need to meet
01:21demand.
01:22And preventing these Biden-era rules from going into effect removes a significant threat to
01:26our energy supply.
01:28Farmers, ranchers, and other landowners can also breathe more easily knowing that the Obama-era
01:34Waters of the United States Rule, which the Biden administration attempted to resurrect,
01:40is being revised.
01:42The so-called WOTUS Rule would have given the federal government sweeping jurisdiction over
01:46most water features on private property, including things like irrigation ditches, ephemeral streams,
01:53and even prairie potholes.
01:56I know farmers and ranchers in my state of South Dakota would have appreciated a seat at
01:59the table before the Biden administration resurrected this harmful policy.
02:04And I am pleased that the Trump administration is committed to consulting with stakeholders for
02:08their input on an alternative clean water rule.
02:11Ms. President, the EPA is also now working to terminate the Biden electric vehicle mandate.
02:19The switch to electric vehicles that the Biden administration envisioned was unwelcome,
02:24unworkable, and unaffordable for a lot of Americans.
02:28And as I said, threatened to put an incredible new strain on our already creaky electric grid.
02:34I know South Dakotans were concerned about the loss of choice and about being forced into
02:38electric vehicles that aren't suitable for the long distances and bitter cold of life
02:43on the Great Plains.
02:46So the elimination of this mandate is welcome news in South Dakota, as I'm sure it is for
02:50a lot of Americans around the country.
02:52Ms. President, here in Congress, we're joining the President in his deregulatory efforts, and
02:57Republican majorities in the House and the Senate have spent the last several weeks working
03:02to rescind burdensome energy regulations using the Congressional Review Act.
03:07President Trump has already signed two CRA resolutions into law, one eliminating the marine archaeology rule that
03:14targeted offshore energy development, and the other stopping implementation of the Biden
03:19tax on natural gas.
03:22Last week, the Senate passed another CRA resolution to block a Biden-era regulation on walk-in freezers
03:28and coolers.
03:29This rule, part of the Biden administration's climate agenda, would have heaped additional
03:34costs on small businesses like restaurants, butchers, convenience stores, and others.
03:41And later this week, I expect the Senate to vote on another energy-related CRA resolution,
03:46this one to block a Biden administration rule that would take certain gas water heaters off
03:51the market by 2029.
03:54This rule would not only increase the cost of water heaters for American homeowners, it would
03:58also impair U.S. manufacturing jobs.
04:02One manufacturer has said the rule could force a shutdown of its $70 million plant in Georgia.
04:08The resolution to repeal this burdensome rule received bipartisan support in the House,
04:12and I hope our Democrat colleagues will join Republicans in opposing this regulation.
04:18Mr. President, the impact of these regulations is felt across industries by American workers
04:24and American businesses.
04:26They're felt by Americans who work in the energy sector, by manufacturers, by small business
04:33owners, farmers, ranchers, and the list goes on.
04:39And regulatory burdens can be especially tough on smaller businesses, sometimes leading them
04:43to sell or shutter their operations.
04:47Those who stay in business often have to raise prices to stay afloat.
04:51Whether it's through higher utility bills or higher costs at the grocery store or for
04:55other goods, it's the American people who ultimately bear the cost of these rules.
05:02And that's why this is such an important issue for Republicans.
05:06It's why we're working hard to eliminate these and many other regulatory burdens.
05:11And we will continue working to deliver regulatory relief for the American people.
05:17Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
05:22The Clerk will call the roll.