New Federal Regulations Threaten Oregon Jobs
— H.R. 2250 would protect Oregon jobs as well as the environment
By Oregon Prosperity Project
Congress is considering legislation to address a costly, job-killing rule proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency that will cost American employers more than $14 billion and put thousands of Oregon jobs at risk. To ensure this legislation passes in time to help employers in Oregon, our US Senators – Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley – need to hear from you!
Thousands of Oregon jobs in numerous industries will be put at risk, including agribusiness, biomass power, forestry and paper, manufacturing, hospitals, and utilities, as aresult of a costly new rule intended to reduce air pollutants from boilers. Studies have shown that the EPA’s “Boiler MACT” rule will create unsustainable financial burdens for at-risk companies — more than $14 billion in initial compliance and billions more in operating costs.
Both H.R. 2250 and S. 1392 (the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011) are bipartisan pieces of legislation that will help to protect Oregon jobs by addressing serious uncertainties and vulnerabilities associated with the development of emissions limits on industrial and commercial boilers.
More than 87,000 jobs nationally in or related to wood products and the pulp and paper industry would be put at immediate risk. Oregon would suffer disproportionately as these are key statewide industries. As a result of cumulative effects of air regulations, an additional 230,000 jobs in numerous industries will be put at risk across the country.
The good news is that lawmakers from both parties have joined in a bipartisan effort to pass legislation that will allow EPA to rewrite the boiler rules in a way that protects both the environment and American jobs. In fact, the US House of Representatives already passed H.R. 2250 by a wide 275-142 margin.
But now it’s the Senate’s turn to act.
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