Contact:

Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797

David Lungren David_Lungren@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-5642

BOXER VIOLATES COMMITTEE RULES,  REJECTS CLEAR PATH FORWARD

Advances ‘Failed Climate Policy of the Past'

Washington, D.C.-Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, issued the following statement in response to Chairman Boxer's violation of committee rules by reporting out S. 1733, the Kerry-Boxer bill:

"I am deeply disappointed by Chairman Boxer's decision to violate the rules and longstanding precedent of the committee.  The Republicans offered a clear path forward to a bipartisan markup, but it was summarily rejected by Chairman Boxer.  Instead, she decided to ignore the entreaties of all 6 ranking members from Senate committees with some share of jurisdiction over climate change legislation, as well as leading moderates in the Senate.  Her action signals the death knell for the Kerry Boxer bill. 

"As was written recently, the Kerry-Boxer bill is ‘bad policy' that ‘resembles the failed climate proposals of the past.'  It is time for a different approach, one that grows, rather than shrinks our economy, creates, rather than destroys jobs, and strengthens, rather than weakens our energy security.  We can do this by encouraging development of all of America's vast energy resources."

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