House Republicans have moved ahead with the introduction of a package of four bills that they say are needed to streamline Clean Air Act permitting and other environmental requirements to promote advanced manufacturing and economic growth.
“These bills will cut through the red tape that has hurt American businesses and workers, while still ensuring strong air quality protections,” House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said in a Friday news release.
In draft form, the four measures were the subject a September hearing by the E&C Environment Subcommittee, where Democrats voiced worries they would undercut existing safeguards. All were formally introduced last week. A markup has yet to be announced.
As POLITICO’s E&E News has previously reported, the package includes H.R. 6409, sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and dubbed the “Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) Act,” to make it easier for state and local regulators to claim compliance waivers for air pollution deemed outside of their control.
