Press Releases

Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution along with Representatives Jim Baird (IN-04) and Ben Cline (VA-06) to nullify the Biden Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) final rule for Fine Particulate Matter, otherwise known as PM 2.5 standards. The CRA enables Congress to disapprove of a final rule issued by a federal agency within 60 days of its publication and prevents the agency from issuing a “substantially similar” rule in the future unless authorized by Congress.

Upon introduction, Congressman Allen issued the following statement:

"With over forty years of experience starting and operating my own construction business, I am all too familiar with heavy-handed, top-down regulations that often place unnecessary compliance and implementation burdens on states and the business community. The EPA’s final rule and rushed process to revise the current fine particulate matter standards is simply unworkable and will have disastrous impacts on manufacturers and job creation nationwide.

"This cannot stand. This Congressional Review Act resolution would use the power of Congress to reverse Biden’s harmful rule, safeguard the American economy, and protect future economic development projects from President Biden’s overreaching rush-to-green agenda," said Rep. Rick Allen. 

"The impact of the EPA’s proposal would have devastating effects on U.S. companies while doing little to achieve the goal of lowering fine particulate matter," said Rep. Jim Baird. "Steel manufacturers and metalcasters already meet some of the strictest manufacturing regulations, but this new proposed ruling would force U.S. companies to outsource steel materials due to lack of supply in the domestic market. This proposed ruling also comes at a time when metalcasters have already taken significant steps to decrease their emissions by unprecedented levels. I am proud to co-lead this effort with Rep. Allen, and I hope the rest of my colleagues will join us in overturning this proposed rule change and wait until Congress conducts its mandated review of fine particulate matter next year."

"Time and time again, we find ourselves grappling with the Biden Administration's pattern of imposing oppressive regulations as part of their green new deal agenda," said Rep. Ben Cline. "The EPA's latest proposition to reduce the particulate matter 2.5 threshold poses a severe threat to our nation's manufacturing industry including paper and pulp mills, jeopardizing approximately 80% of them with potential closure. The forestry sector, an economic cornerstone with profound historic significance in the Commonwealth, would sustain significant damage due to this unwarranted rule, with the 6th District suffering disproportionately. That is why I proudly co-sponsored this legislation and urge leadership to bring this bill to the floor swiftly. We must overturn the Biden Administration’s detrimental regulation to protect our economy and prevent the far-Left green energy agenda from undermining American manufacturing."

BACKGROUND: PM 2.5 is a complex mixture of extremely small particles that can be emitted from sources such as forest fires, construction sites, and unpaved roads. Congressman Allen recently participated in an Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Hearing where he highlighted the devastating impacts that President Biden’s finalized  PM 2.5 standards would have on the state of Georgia. Additionally, state and local governments across the nation are sounding the alarm and urging the President to reconsider this disastrous proposal.