Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued a statement today criticizing the announcement by Stephen Johnson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that the EPA will not take any action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles before the end of this year. In April 2007, the United States Supreme Court held that EPA was required under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, but EPA has yet to comply with that directive.
“Under Administrator Johnson, EPA has repeatedly ignored science and the law in favor of an agenda driven by the White House and its political allies – an agenda that is harming our people, our nation, and our planet.
“Mr. Johnson’s announcement that he will continue to prevent action to regulate greenhouse gas pollution – a major contributor to global warming – confirms, again, that he cannot or will not stand up to political pressures.
“We cannot afford an Environmental Protection Agency that does not protect the environment. If Administrator Johnson cannot lead this great agency in the manner the American people deserve to see it led, he should step down and let someone else try.”
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