June 21, 2012

U.S. Congressman John Barrow (GA-12), a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, today voted for a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act, H.R. 4480, to create jobs, spur economic growth, and reduce energy prices. Included in the overall package was a bill Congressman Barrow introduced with Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) that requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider the impact of certain regulations on gas prices.

"Too much bureaucratic red tape is standing in the way of our economic growth," said Congressman Barrow. "The last thing folks need are more government regulations driving up the cost of a gallon of gas and making us more reliant on foreign oil. This bill takes the necessary steps to drive down energy costs and create jobs, two concerns Georgia families express to me as I travel throughout the 12th District. "

Included in the overall package is a bill Congressman Barrow introduced with Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) that imposes a moratorium on new regulations that are likely to drive up the cost of gas production, and requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider the impact that any such regulations will have on the price of gas. The three regulations that would be halted until the study is complete are:

• New Source Performance Standards for greenhouse gases for refineries
• TIER 3 standards (amount of sulphur in the refined product), and
• Tightening of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Ozone

In addition to supporting this bill, in May, Congressman Barrow introduced a Motion to Instruct the transportation reauthorization conferees to insist up the approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline. That motion passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 261-152. More information on the Motion to Instruct is available by clicking here.

For more information on the bill Congressman Barrow introduced with Congressman Whitfield, please click here.

The energy package passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 248-163.