WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) co-sponsored the “Coal Country Protection Act,” which U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) introduced today to block President Barack Obama’s proposed regulation on existing power plants unless appropriate agencies can prove it will not eliminate jobs, cost our economy, increase electricity prices, or reduce electricity reliability.

“President Obama’s latest EPA rule is a direct attack on low and middle-income families in Missouri and nationwide,” Blunt said. “This bill is an important step in preventing the president and his administration from further burdening people who simply cannot afford to pay more at the pump or higher utility bills as a result of these costly energy policies.”

The bill would ensure that before the EPA Administrator establishes any new regulation or guidance that limits carbon emissions from new or existing power plants, the following criteria must be met:

• The Secretary of Labor certifies to the EPA Administrator the regulation will not generate loss of employment.
• The Director of the Congressional Budget Office certifies to the EPA Administrator that the regulation will not result in any loss in gross domestic product of the U.S.
• The Administrator of the Energy Information Administration certifies to the EPA Administrator that the regulation will not increase electricity rates.
• The Chairperson of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the President of the North American Electric Reliability Corp. certify to the Administrator that electricity delivery will remain reliable. 

Missouri relies on coal for more than 80 percent of the state’s electricity needs, and Blunt has long-fought against the Obama Administration’s burdensome energy policies. Last month, Blunt introduced an amendment to protect families from skyrocketing energy costs that would result from a carbon tax. He introduced similar amendments to prevent a carbon tax in April 2014 to the unemployment insurance bill, and in March 2013 to the FY14 budget.

# # #