Manufacturing group urges Senate to pass Murkowski resolution

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) executive vice president Jay Timmons issued the following statement June 8 on Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) “resolution of disapproval” to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act:

“Manufacturers encourage Senators to vote in favor of the ‘resolution of disapproval’ and to stop the EPA from moving forward with its overreaching and economically destructive agenda. Beginning in January 2011, the EPA plans to begin requiring certain manufacturers to obtain permits for their new facilities that exceed 75,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions with other facilities of different sizes being phased in. These costly new burdens create uncertainty, stifle job creation and harm manufacturers’ ability to compete in a global economy that does not have similar restrictions. The EPA’s new regulations not only expand the Agency’s power but come with no guidance from Congress. The Clean Air Act was never intended to control or regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and the EPA is ill-equipped to carry out this task. Further, these actions will curtail long-term investments by manufacturers who are also looked upon to grow jobs.

“This is a complex issue that will have a significant impact on the future of manufacturing and the health of the U.S. economy. Additional permitting requirements and regulations from the EPA under a short timetable will impact millions of businesses and impose thousands of dollars of costs on each one. Therefore, we believe Congress must have a healthy and productive discussion on any climate change policy. The Murkowski resolution simply allows Congress to do its job. We ask all members of the Senate to vote for the Murkowski resolution to stop the EPA from inflicting additional economic harm.”

The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing has a presence in every single congressional district providing good, high-paying jobs. For more information, visit www.nam.org.