{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/barletta-rebukes-obama-s-epa-excesses", "Barletta Rebukes Obamas EPA Excesses", "2015-12-01", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Congressman Lou Barletta, PA-11, today voted in support of two resolutions aimed at overturning more overreach by President Obamas Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its ongoing assault on the coal industry, cheaper electricity, and the jobs the industry creates. New rules promulgated by the EPA set unrealistic emission standards, effectively ban new coal-fired power plants, and impose cap-and-trade style mandates on the nations energy supply. Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, Congress can overturn an agencys rule if a joint resolution of disapproval is passed by both chambers and signed by the president. Since the Senate has already approved each resolution, todays House passage sends the measures to the presidents desk. Barletta was a co-sponsor of the House versions of both resolutions.\nS.J. Res. 23 expresses Congressional disapproval of an EPA rule relating to Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. The rule sets standards that are not viable and would essentially ban the construction of new coal-fired plants. The rule also imposes cap-and-trade mandates on electricity producers, and is being challenged in court by 23 states. The House approved S.J. Res. 23 by a vote of 235-to-188.\nS.J. Res. 24 expresses disapproval of the EPAs carbon dioxide rulefor existing power plants, otherwise known as Obamas Clean Power Plan. This rule would establish cap-and-trade mandates on existing power plants and impose federal regulatory authority over states electricity production. The unprecedented federal takeover of the electricity sector would cost billions of dollars each year and increase electrical rates for consumers. The rule is being challenged in court by 27 states. The House approved S.J. Res. 24 by a vote of 242-to-180.\nBarletta issued the following statement:\nWhen President Obama was a candidate, he said that he would bankrupt the coal industry. That was one of the few campaign promises he has tried to keep. Unable to force his plans past the peoples representatives in Congress, he has again gone around the legislature and used unelected Washington bureaucrats to impose his will on the American people.\nThese rules knowingly set a bar for emissions reductions that is too high, meaning that existing coal-fired plants will incur severe financial burdens, and new ones will never be built. It means another blow to the coal industry, and lost jobs for a proud workforce who helped build Pennsylvania and America. And it means higher electricity bills for everybody.\nBy sending this to the presidents desk, we have forced him to declare which side he is on. Is he with the people who need jobs and are struggling to get by, or is he with the extreme environmentalists who seek to control our daily lives?", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/barletta-rebukes-obama-s-epa-excesses"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9164260011166334, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}