Action Alert: Sneak Attack on EPA Could Be Voted On Today

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-MO) has launched a stealth effort to remove EPA's authority on carbon emissions. 

As you may know, Sen. Inhofe (R-OK) and Rep. Upton (R-MI) have introduced a bill to repeal EPA's scientific finding that greenhouse gases are a public health threat. The amendment would also repeal EPA's authority, as upheld by the Supreme Court, to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. 

If passed this bill would effectively gut the Clean Air Act, overturn a decision of the Supreme Court, and dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to address carbon dioxide and other pollution.

Furthermore, it would erase a key incentive to the private sector to invest in low carbon technologies - hurting much needed economic growth and job creation in clean energy.

Without any real debate, Senator McConnell is attempting to slip the Inhofe/Upton bill into law by attaching it as an amendment to the unrelated small business bill, the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011(S. 493).   

Republicans, with help from coal state Democrats, may have the votes to pass a radical sneak attack on EPA. We need 41 votes to draw a line in the sand. The Senate could vote on this amendment as early as this morning.

If the amendment doesn't pass, Republicans will try to pass another bill to cripple EPA that has even more support - Sen. Jay Rockefeller's bill to delay implementation of EPA climate rules for coal plants and other stationary sources of greenhouse gas pollutants. We must make sure Democrats staunchly defend the Clean Air Act, and reject any bills that contain these clean air attacks.

Ask your Senator to filibuster attacks on the Clean Air Act. Here's where yours stands and how to contact them.

Here's a list of Republicans that need calls. Urge them to vote against the McConnell Amendment and all efforts to repeal EPA's authority on carbon emissions.

As a business leader your message will be particularly influential in defeating this amendment.  

If you cannot get the Senator on the phone, ask to speak to the Chief of Staff.  If you get voice mail, leave a detailed message explaining why you are calling.

  

Talking Points

This amendment would diminish incentives to the private sector to invest in clean energy, retarding much needed economic growth and job creation.

• The growing clean energy sector represents our greatest opportunity to restore a robust economy and create new jobs. Investors and entrepreneurs in this sector are seeking to commercialize the innovations and technologies that will secure America's competitive position in the global economy.
• According to the EPA, the economic health benefits of the Clean Air Act outweigh the costs by as much as a 40:1 ratio.
• The McConnell amendment sends the wrong market signal at the wrong time, undermining investor confidence in this critical industry.
• Forcing a vote on this in the middle of a debate about small business innovation is the wrong way to address serious legislation.
• Members of the business community like yourself, health groups, environmentalists and national security experts are all strongly opposed to this amendment.