This is a response from our congressman..
March 17, 2016
Mr. Carl Wilson
Dear Mr. Wilson,
Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I am committed to putting the needs of my constituents first, and it is important that I have a direct line to you and other residents of the First District of Arkansas. Your correspondence plays a vital role in the legislative process, and I welcome your views and ideas.
In response to your comments concerning the Clean Air Act, the EPA used Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act to justify it's Clean Power Plan rule-making. Like you, I believe it is important that we work to reduce the levels of air pollutants in our environment. However, I have serious concerns regarding both the legality of EPA's actions and the impact the rule may have on Arkansas ratepayers and jobs in the Arkansas' manufacturing sector. EPA's decision to regulate carbon under the Clean Air Act is unprecedented and there is little evidence that the law was intended to regulate carbon emissions, or that it permits this type of regulatory activity. CAA Section 111(d) allows the EPA to regulate "pollutants," but the Act is silent on the classification of carbon as a pollutant. There is also no mention of carbon in the Act's legislative history as it pertains to Section 111(d). In the coming months and year, I expect the courts to weigh in on whether or not EPA does in fact have this power.
My fellow members of Congress and I have found that the EPA has exceeded its statutory authority in its recent actions to regulate vehicles used solely for competition and despite the clear intent of Congress, the EPA has cited the Clean Air Act as authority for regulating vehicles used solely for competition. In response to this, Representative Patrick McHenry introduced H.R. 4715, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016, which will exclude vehicles used solely for competition from certain provisions of the Clean Air Act.
While EPA's mission to protect the environment is an important one, we must ensure that their mandates are not senseless and do not unnecessarily stifle our Nation's job creation and economic growth. In addition, EPA regulations should be based on sound scientific evidence and not pressured by special interest groups or questionable and incomplete data. Rest assured that I will keep your concerns in mind when any legislation concerning EPA regulations come before me in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Once again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me on this important issue. Feel free to contact me should you have any additional comments or questions. Also, I encourage you to visit my website at Crawford.House.Gov to sign up for my e-newsletter and receive regular updates from Washington, D.C.
Sincerely,
Rick Crawford
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
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