U.S. Chamber Hails Passage of VA-HUD Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce hailed today's House of Representative's vote on the Veterans' Administration and Housing and Urban Development (VA/HUD) appropriations bill that includes a key Chamber-backed amendment blocking the Environmental Protection Agency's implementation of revised air standards.

"EPA's attempt to push forward in the face of two court rulings that their revised air standards are unconstitutional – and to continue with regulations that lack congressional approval – is unprecedented," said William Kovacs, Chamber vice president of environment and regulatory affairs. "EPA's unabashed power grab was rightfully ended by Congress today."

EPA has informed states it will designate new ozone non-attainment areas, despite a D.C. Circuit Court ruling that the air standards are unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to hear that case.

"The most important power of the Congress is the power of the purse, to decide where public money will be spent," said Kovacs. "Today's vote ensures the EPA will obey the intent of the Congress, by denying EPA the funds to move forward on regulatory activities without congressional authority."

Other Key Chamber-backed Riders in VA/HUD Bill

The Chamber urged Congress to restrict funding for EPA activities that represent an end run around congressional limits on the agency's regulatory authority. Other provisions within the VA/HUD appropriations bill prohibit EPA from spending money on a number of new regulatory proposals, including:

implementing environmental justice guidelines that would stop development of urban areas;
expanding Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations that would usurp states' authority to set water quality standards; and
enacting provisions of the Kyoto protocol before the Senate has ratified the treaty.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

# # #

00-100