Meghan Hughes (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement on news today that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will declare carbon dioxide a health hazard.   The EPA is acting pursuant to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2007 decision Massachusetts v. EPA, where the Court ruled carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases should be regulated as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. 

 

Graham said:

 

“I continue to believe regulation of carbon by unaccountable bureaucrats at EPA is the worst possible outcome. Jobs will be lost and in some cases industries will be regulated out of business.  EPA regulators will not consider expanded nuclear energy or offshore drilling, the exact provisions that I am pushing to have included in Congressional legislation. 

“Regardless of whether you view climate change as a real threat or some grand hoax, carbon is eventually going to be regulated.  As a conservative, I believe the proper venue to set the rules is through the people’s elected representatives in the Congress, not unelected bureaucrats at the EPA.    

“Done correctly, we can address these issues in a way that benefits our economy, national security and environment.  And South Carolina, through our many investments in research and technology, has a golden opportunity to lead the pack.  We are positioned to be one of the states to benefit the most from clean energy legislation.”  

 

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