NE Washington News

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered opening remarks at today’s Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee hearing titled “Holding the Biden-Harris EPA Accountable for Radical Rush-to-Green Spending.”

“American families are struggling to make ends meet,” said Rodgers.

“The Biden-Harris administration’s radical rush-to-green energy policies have fueled out-of-control inflation, which has driven up prices by more than 20 percent and destroyed the economic stability American families deserve,” she continued.

Rodgers expressed concern over what she described as relentless efforts by the administration to expand its energy agenda despite rising costs for American families. She stated that the hearing would focus on examining the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the current administration.

In her remarks, Rodgers criticized the significant budget increases allocated to the EPA. “In November of 2021, the Biden-Harris administration signed into law the so-called ‘Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,’ authorizing $1.2 trillion in spending. $60 billion dollars of this taxpayer funding was provided to the EPA—the single largest grant of funding EVER at one time to the agency—doubling their overall budget for five straight years,” she noted.

She further highlighted additional funding received by the EPA in August 2022 through the ‘Inflation Reduction Act,’ amounting to another $41.5 billion. According to Rodgers, these measures did not achieve their intended goal of reducing inflation but instead exacerbated it.

Rodgers pointed out historical issues with managing large sums of money within federal agencies like the EPA. She referenced past instances during President Obama’s tenure when substantial funds were allocated but allegedly mismanaged. “Fifteen years ago, the Obama administration doled out $787 billion in taxpayer money... The Inspector General at that time found funding that violated various federal requirements... problems with managing, monitoring and verifying where the money was being spent.”

She emphasized concerns about increased funding and workforce expansion within the EPA since President Biden took office: “It is incredibly alarming that since President Biden took office, the EPA has been given $109 billion in additional funding and grown its workforce to over 15,000 employees.”

Rodgers criticized specific initiatives such as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and stringent regulations imposed on coal and natural gas-fired power plants by calling them part of a "radical rush-to-green agenda" that threatens economic security while benefiting adversaries like China.

The need for rigorous oversight was stressed: “The amount of funding and scope of these laws demand consistent and rigorous oversight by Congress and independent bodies like the Inspector General.” She concluded by urging greater accountability from EPA: “Sunshine is the best disinfectant, and I look forward to shining more light on what is happening at the EPA during today’s hearing.”

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