EPW Blog

Inhofe Introduces Legislation to Ensure States, Not Federal Government, Regulate Hydraulic Fracturin

Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, introduced the Fracturing Regulations are Effective in State Hands Act (FRESH Act) today along with co-sponsors Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, David Vitter (R-LA), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), John Cornyn (R-TX), James Risch (R-ID), and John Hoeven (R-ND). This bill will ensure that states - not the federal government - have the sole authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing within their state boundaries. Companion legislation will be introduced by Representative Louie Gohmert (R-TX) in the House.

Senators Fight to Stop EPA’s Takeover of All Water

Link to Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Dean Heller (R-NV) and 26 other Senators introduced legislation to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from taking over all private water in the United States. The "Preserve the Waters of the U.S. Act" prevents the EPA and the Army Corp of Engineers (Corps) from using their overreaching "guidance" to change legal responsibilities under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Inhofe Files Amendments to Halt Obama’s War on Affordable Energy

Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today filed a number of amendments to S. 2204 that would lower gas and electricity costs for American families by reining in the Obama administration's war on affordable energy and significantly increasing American energy production. These amendments achieve the opposite of President Obama's failed energy policies, which are designed to restrict domestic energy production severely and cause electricity and gas prices to skyrocket.

Inhofe Vows to Halt Obama EPA Global Warming Regulations

Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today announced at an EPW hearing his intentions to put a stop to President Obama's new electricity tax that would have a devastating impact on American consumers at a time when gas prices are skyrocketing.

Inhofe:  Menendez Bill tax increases continue Obama’s war on fossil fuels

Link to Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today blasted the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act (S.2204) by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) as a continuation of President Obama's ongoing war against fossil fuels. With gas prices nationwide averaging $3.90 per gallon, Senate Democrats will move forward with consideration of the bill that even its sponsor admits will not reduce gas prices.

Inhofe Welcomes EPA Inspector General’s Office Investigation Into EPA’s Scientific Process

Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, welcomed the news that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has agreed to his request to investigate EPA's handling of two advisory committees that have shown a troubling lack of impartiality: the Clean Air Science Advisory Committee (CASAC) and the Advisory Council on Clean Air Compliance Analysis (ACCACA).

Oklahoma KRMG: Fact Check: Obama’s fast-tracking of pipeline won’t speed construction

By April Hill KRMG (Tulsa) Link to article Link to Inhofe EPW Press Blog President Barack Obama used Oklahoma's oil hub of Cushing, Okla., as a backdrop to announce plans on the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline from Cushing to the Gulf Coast Thursday.

Obama tries to take credit for pipeline in Cushing, OK

Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, gave the following remarks at today's Environment and Public Works Committee hearing entitled, "Environmental Protection Agency Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Hearing," with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

Hearing on Environmental Protection Agency Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Hearing

Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Full Committee hearing entitled, "Environmental Protection Agency Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Hearing." Thursday, March 22, 2012 10:15 AM EDT Link to Opening Statement Good morning, Administrator Jackson. I want to thank you for coming to discuss EPA's priorities for the coming fiscal year. As I went through your proposed budget, I saw four themes emerge. Admittedly, you may not agree with my interpretation. First, an escalation in climate change funding; second, increasing the cost of fuel at the pump; third, beefing up EPA's regulatory budget while cutting the states' ability to deal with new unfunded mandates; and finally, negative impacts on rural America.

Obama in Oklahoma: Rhetoric vs. Reality

LISTEN: Inhofe: President Obama taking credit for pipeline won't fly in Oklahoma Link to Inhofe EPW Press Blog In preparation for President Obama's speech in Cushing, Oklahoma tomorrow, it's worth taking a look at his reelection rhetoric vs. the reality of his destructive energy policies. Remember, when President Obama first took office, he told us that the world was headed for unspeakable global warming catastrophe so we had to put a price on carbon to get us off oil, gas, and coal; he said that under his plan of a cap-and-trade system, energy prices would "necessarily skyrocket." He told us that companies like Solyndra were leading the way to a "brighter and more prosperous future" and that we had to subsidize them to the tune of billions of dollars so we could save the world.

Welcome to Oklahoma, Mr. President; CNN Reports: “The place is booming”

Link to What Oklahomans Are Saying About President Obama's Upcoming Visit to Oklahoma Link to Inhofe EPW Press Blog Welcome to Oklahoma, President Obama. As the Oklahoman noted this morning, "we hope Obama's time here will be instructive, that Oklahoma's energy leaders have an opportunity to tell the president how the cow ate the cabbage when it comes to the real world of energy as opposed to the idealized world that Obama touts."

Oversight Hearing on Review of the Environmental Protection Agencys Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

Inhofe Opening Statement, Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 10:00 AM Link to Opening Statement Chairman Carper, thank you for the hearing focusing on the new MATS, or Utility MACT, rule - the most costly rule in the history of the EPA and one that typifies President Obama's war on affordable energy. I would also like to thank the witnesses for being here today.

Oklahoma to Welcome President Obama on Pipeline Project

Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, commented today on President Obama's upcoming visit to Cushing, Oklahoma ahead of the construction of a pipeline which will run from Cushing to the Gulf. President Obama plans to travel to Oklahoma City on March 21 and to Cushing, Oklahoma on March 22.

Lessons from Fukushima, One Year Later

Link to Opening Statement Thank you, Chairman Boxer, for holding this hearing and focusing on implementing the lessons learned from Fukushima. The efforts will ensure that the safety of nuclear plants in the U.S., and around the world, will be enhanced and the use of nuclear energy sustained over the long term.

Inhofe Working to Move CNG Legislation Through Congress

Link to S.2174 Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today voted against the Natural Gas Act amendment to the Boxer-Inhofe highway bill, which was offered by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Richard Burr (R-NC). With this amendment defeated, Senator Inhofe will introduce S.2174, a bill that will help incentivize Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) without taxpayer subsidies.

Senate Democrats Reject Keystone Construction

Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said today that Senate Democrats sided with President Obama instead of American families by voting against Senator John Hoeven's (R-ND) amendment to the Boxer-Inhofe highway bill, which allows Congress to overturn President Obama's rejection of the Keystone pipeline and approve the project immediately.

Democrats Reject Latest Bipartisan Attempt to Rein in Obama-EPA’s Job-Killing Agenda

Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said today that despite their constant rhetoric that EPA needs to be reined in, Senate Democrats once again voted against an amendment that would save jobs. This amendment, sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) would provide a legislative fix for the Obama Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) botched Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rule for industrial boilers (Boiler MACT).

Inhofe Introduces Bill to Improve Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule

Link to Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2012 Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today introduced the Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2012 (S.2148), legislation that improves the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (LLRP) in order to increase compliance. Senators David Vitter (R-LA), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Mike Enzi (R-WY) are cosponsors of this bill.

Sec. Chu refuses to retract statement that the goal is to boost price of gas to levels in Europe

Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said that Energy Secretary Steven Chu's testimony today before the House Science Committee reveals that he remains thoroughly committed to his comment in 2008 that somehow "we have to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe." When Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) asked Secretary Chu at the hearing today if he would retract his 2008 statement he refused. This comes just days after Congressman Alan Nunnelee (R-Miss) asked Secretary Chu if it was the Administration's goal to bring down gas prices. His answer was "no" and he went on to say, "The overall goal is to decrease our dependency on oil; to build and strengthen our economy and decrease our dependency on oil."

Inhofe Exposes Latest Obama-EPA Gas Tax Attempt

Link to Letter Link to Press Release Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, sent a letter last night to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson expressing concern that EPA is moving forward with its global warming agenda despite the fact that emissions of fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) would increase significantly under EPA's greenhouse gas regulations for cars. To hide this increase in pollution, EPA is pushing ahead with Tier 3 regulations, which could add up to 25 cents per gallon to the cost of gasoline. Furthermore, contrary to President Obama's claims to support natural gas, his EPA's greenhouse gas regime has erected regulatory barriers that are effectively capping the number of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) being introduced in the market.