EPA Endangerment Finding

On December 7, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally declared greenhouse gases a danger to public health and welfare, and should therefore be regulated under the Clean Air Act. The endangerment finding paves the way for the EPA to circumvent Congress and unilaterally regulate emissions from stationary sources including power plants, refineries and factories. The effects of which would be devastating to American agriculture producers and the customers they serve. In response, there has been broad bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress to take legislative steps that would prevent the EPA from moving forward with their burdensome regulations. On March 2, 2010, Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Frank Lucas joined over 100 of his Republican colleagues in the House to cosponsor a disapproval resolution (H.J. Res. 77) that would nullify the EPA’s endangerment finding. A similar resolution (H.J. Res. 76) sponsored by Rep. Ike Skelton and cosponsored by Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson has also been introduced in the House, which has the backing of 175 agriculture groups. In addition Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has introduced a resolution in the Senate.

Click here to download a printable policy brief on the EPA endangerment finding (PDF)

Press Releases:

In Case You Missed It: Lucas Discusses Efforts in Congress to Block EPA
April 29, 2010

Lucas & Republican Ag Members Ask for a Hearing on EPA's Endangerment Finding
April 28, 2010

The Ag Minute: Congress Must Pass the Resolution to Block EPA
April 27, 2010

The Ag Minute: Congress Must Stop the Regulatory Expansion of the EPA
March 2, 2010

The Ag Minute: Agriculture Community Must Be Alert – Now More than Ever
January 19, 2010

The Ag Minute: EPA Is Supposed to Do What Congress Wants, Not What the EPA Wants
December 8, 2009

Lucas Attacks EPA Regulatory Decision
April 17, 2009