WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) and a bipartisan group of senators to introduce The Clean Air, Strong Economies (CASE) Act to block the most expensive EPA regulation of all time. Senator Fischer released the following statement regarding the bill this afternoon:

“America has made tremendous progress in cleaning our air while growing our economy. Unfortunately, the EPA decided to supersede this progress with the most costly regulations in history. Furthermore, the EPA has not supplied any evidence that this will serve to benefit public health. We have a responsibility to both protect our environment and promote economic growth. The EPA’s ozone regulations accomplish none of these objectives.

“Nebraska and families across our nation will suffer as a result of this damage. For this reason, I have joined Senator Thune to introduce the CASE Act - an important piece of legislation that will halt this attack on our families and economy while offering responsible provisions to protect our environment.”

In November of 2014, the EPA issued a proposal that would reduce the allowable concentration of ground-level ozone from 75 parts per billion (ppb), set in 2008, to between 65 and 70 parts per billion. National ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) are standards for air intended to protect public health and welfare from harmful concentrations of pollution. While 221 counties in 27 states are currently not in compliance with the 75 ppb standard, the Obama administration is also seeking comments on a plan that would lower the standard to 60 ppb. Such a rule would likely require industrial facilities across the country, including many in Nebraska, to install expensive ozone control equipment, limit production, or buy "offsets," which would stifle economic growth.

In 2011, the EPA issued a similar proposal, which it estimated could cost businesses and utilities upwards of $90 billion each year. President Obama withdrew the 2011 proposal, citing the need to "underscore the importance of reducing regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty." A recent economic study from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) revealed that setting the ozone standard at 65 ppb would reduce GDP by $140 billion per year and cost the average family $830 per year.

The CASE Act would place reasonable limits on the EPA’s ability to lower the ozone standard. It does not directly bar the EPA from lowering the standard if justified by science, but rather, requires the EPA to consider compliance, monitoring, real health benefits, costs, and feasibility before moving forward.

 Click here to view text of The CASE Act.