Marathon Pundit: Kinzinger, House Energy and Commerce Committee passes bipartisan legislation to prevent cement plant closings

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Kinzinger, House Energy and Commerce Committee passes bipartisan legislation to prevent cement plant closings

Downtown Princeton, IL,
11th Congressional District

President Obama is promising that he will create jobs. Meanwhile, his radicalized Environmental Protection Agency is killing them. But members of a House of Representatives Committee are fighting the EPA.

From an Adam Kinzinger press release:

Kinzinger, House Energy and Commerce Committee Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent U.S. Cement Plant Closings and Save Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed bipartisan legislation known as the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011. Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), who serves on the Committee and is an original co-sponsor, says the bill would protect domestic cement manufacturing and tens of thousands of American jobs.

Kinzinger made the following remarks in his opening statement:

Last September, the EPA released new regulations on the American cement industry. These new requirements will cost $3.4 billion, close 18 of America's 100 cement plants, and leave 20,000 Americans without jobs.

When this rule is in full effect and the plants are closed, where will America purchase its cement? From China, a country that is producing cement with zero environmental safeguards? With the increased demand in China global hazardous pollution will rise with these new rules.

This bill gives regulators time to develop practical rules for cement manufacturing facilities and will protect jobs in the cement industry, the manufacturing industry, and the construction industry that could otherwise be sent overseas. Enough is enough. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bipartisan legislation.

The Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 was first introduced on July 28, 2011. The legislation would grant federal regulators more time and guidelines to develop achievable rules governing emissions from cement manufacturing facilities. This necessary extended timeline would prevent plant shutdowns, while protecting jobs. Estimates confirm that recent rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could result in shutting down nearly 20 percent of the nation's cement plants in the next two years, driving up the price of cement, increasing imports, and eliminating thousands of jobs.
NOTE: The Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act was introduced by Reps. John Sullivan (R-OK) and Mike Ross (D-AR). Co-sponsors are: Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Bob Latta (R-OH), Greg Walden (R-OR), Joe Barton, John Carter (R-TX), Charlie Dent (R-PA), Dan Boren (D-OK), and Jason Altmire (D-PA).

Click here to read the full text of H.R. 2681, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011.