PRESS RELEASE: Senator Blunt Continues Fight Against Burdensome Regs, Works To Protect Rural Families From Costly Wood Stove EPA Rule

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Senator Blunt Continues Fight Against Burdensome Regs, Works To Protect Rural Families From Costly Wood Stove EPA Rule

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) spoke out today against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that it is finalizing standards for residential wood stoves. In March 2014, Blunt sent a letter to the EPA expressing his “serious concerns” surrounding this proposed rule, in which he noted that “many homeowners find the burning of wood to heat homes to be a reliable and affordable source of fuel.”

“Nearly 12 million American households rely on wood heaters to heat their homes. I’m still very worried that the EPA’s rule will hurt these rural families,” said Blunt. “Time and again, we’ve seen the Obama Administration impose costly rules and regulations that are especially harmful to low and middle class families and workers. I’ll keep fighting to stop this and other burdensome rules from hurting our most vulnerable families in Missouri and nationwide.”

As part of his ongoing efforts to stop executive over-reach, Blunt co-sponsored legislation to stop the EPA from taking over all private and state water in the United States, and he has been vocal in his opposition to the EPA’s proposed regulations on coal-fired power plants.

Blunt has also helped lead the fight to restore accountability and stop over-regulation in Washington:

• REINS Act: Blunt recently co-sponsored the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which was reintroduced on January 22, 2015 by U.S. Senator Rand Paul (Ky.). The REINS Act would require Congress to approve every new major rule proposed by the Executive Branch, which has an annual economic impact of $100 million or more, before it can be enforced on the American people.
• Regulatory Improvement Act: Last Congress, Blunt joined U.S. Senator Angus King (Maine) to introduce the Regulatory Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation to streamline, consolidate, and repeal onerous and costly government regulations. The bill would direct Congress to create a “Regulatory Improvement Commission,” which would collect broad public input regarding which regulations are outdated, duplicative, or inefficient. Blunt plans to re-introduce a version of this bill this Congress.

·         Regulatory Responsibility for Our Economy Act: Blunt once again co-sponsored U.S. Senator Pat Roberts’ (Kan.) Regulatory Responsibility for Our Economy Act, which ensures that regulations put forth by the Executive branch consider the economic burden on American businesses, account for stakeholder input, and promote innovation. The bill would require all federal agencies to review their significant regulations, and propose a timeline to repeal those deemed burdensome, unnecessary or those that harm the economy or job creation.

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This release was sent by the office of U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), and therefore paid for by taxpayer dollars.