AUSTIN – Americans for Prosperity-Texas applauds Congressman Joe Barton (R-Fort Worth) for introducing a resolution which would block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, something the Act was never designed to do.

“Rep. Barton has taken a leadership role in blocking the EPA’s unacceptable regulatory overreach, and I urge other members of Congress to support his bill,” said AFP-Texas Director Peggy Venable. “We consider the EPA action as just another Obama Administration end-run around Congress and the Constitution.”

Rep. Barton is ranking member, House Energy and Commerce Committee. In addition to Barton, Representatives John Boehner, R-Ohio (Republican Leader); Mike Pence, R-Ind.( Republican Conference Chairman); Darrell Issa, ranking member, House Oversight and Government Reform; Frank Lucas, R-Okla, ranking member, Agriculture Committee; and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, House Energy and Commerce Committee. The resolution currently has 79 co-sponsors.

“The EPA’s actions are unprecedented,” said Venable. “The agency is inappropriately using the Clean Air Act to promulgate the so-called endangerment finding regarding carbon dioxide emissions would force millions of businesses, churches, schools and hospitals across the country to deal with the complex, time consuming and costly EPA permitting process for the first time”

“This proposal would literally shut down commerce as the private sector tries to figure out just exactly how it will be affected by the new regulations,” Venable said. “The EPA’s plan would also cripple state permitting agencies, which would be forced to implement the new unfunded mandate.”

The Congressional action comes just two weeks after Texas Governor Rick Perry, Attorney General Gregg Abbott and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples filed a lawsuit against the EPA for attempting to regulate green house gases under the Clean Air Act.

“We are pleased that Texas is taking a leadership roll in the EPA fight, since we will be affected so disproportionately by these proposed regulations,” Venable said. “We're pleased that the state is suing to block the EPA, but the most direct action is for Congress to shut down the EPA’s overreach. The Clean Air Act was never intended to be the vehicle for global warming regulations.”