Republicans vow to fight EPA’s new ozone rule

Republicans promised a legislative response to the new ozone standards the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released Thursday. 

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said he “will be pursuing legislation” to combat the rules in his committee. 

{mosads}“EPA’s decision to restrict the ozone standard to 70 parts per billion is yet another example of the Obama administration’s enthusiasm for needless regulation,” Inhofe said in a statement. 

“Our country should have been given the opportunity to fully meet the 2008 standard before implementing another frivolous and costly mandate.”

The EPA announced Thursday that it would tighten its limit on surface level ozone from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion, a level industry groups and Republicans have said will hurt the economy and lead to job losses. 

Republicans have criticized the proposed rule changes throughout the lead-up to its release on Thursday. When an EPA official testified before Inhofe’s committee this week, the senator accused the agency of colluding with “extremist environmental groups” to write the regulations. 

Industry groups have pushed research they say shows the rule will be among the most expensive to implement in history. 

The White House pushed back against that Thursday, with spokesman Josh Earnest saying “there is a strong economic incentive for the U.S. and industries in the U.S. to be more focused on renewable and clean energy.”

But Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the House Science Committee, disagreed.

“This rule could be the most expensive regulation ever imposed on the American public,” Smith said in a statement. 

“It will put millions of Americans out of work and cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars. And it will most impact financially vulnerable families who already struggle to find employment and pay their bills.”

Republicans have tried before to stop the EPA from instituting the rule. House lawmakers included a provision in an appropriations bill this summer to effectively block the regulation, but the bill never hit the floor. 

Democrats, though, welcomed the rule. 

“I strongly believe that protecting air quality based on the science is the right approach and that it brings health benefits and promotes more job growth,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Senate environment panel. 

“Today’s action is a step in the right direction, but I believe following the science is important, and I am disappointed that a more protective standard was not set.”