WASHINGTON, DC – The House of Representatives today passed committee member Rep. Pete Olson’s (R-TX) H.R. 4775, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act, by a vote of 234 to 177, furthering the committee’s ongoing #RecordOfSuccess. H.R. 4775 is a commonsense bill aimed at providing states the flexibility needed to implement the two ozone standards, and provides other relief.

States are just now beginning to implement the standards set by EPA in 2008 because EPA did not publish the implementing regulations until March of 2015. EPA then revised the standards in October of 2015 and now states face the prospect of simultaneously implementing two ozone standards despite the fact that ozone levels are down thirty percent since 1980. H.R. 4775 ensures continued protection of the environment and public health while protecting jobs and economic growth. 

Watch Rep. Olson’s remarks HERE

Rep. Olson stated during floor debate, “Despite what some would have you believe, Mr. Chairman, this bipartisan bill is not about fundamentally changing the Clean Air Act. Nothing in this bipartisan bill changes any air quality standard or regulation… This bipartisan bill is about carefully thought out, common sense reforms. It is about listening to state regulators, who actually have to make EPA’s rules work.”

“Our states and communities now face the burden of spending scarce taxpayer dollars to implement two different ozone standards at once,” said co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX). “This bill protects these areas from being subjected to unnecessary additional regulatory burdens and red tape as these areas are already on track for compliance.”

Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), an original co-sponsor of the bill noted, “H.R. 4775 focuses on efficient implementation of ozone and other air quality requirements by making commonsense adjustments to facilitate how air quality standards are implemented. What this legislation postpones is the diversion of state resources from the most pressing challenges to meet a standard that EPA projects will be met anyway through measures already on the books.”

“This bipartisan bill charts a sensible path forward for continued improvements in ozone air quality while minimizing the adverse impacts on economic growth and jobs,” added Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY). “The end result of this bill would be a more workable Clean Air Act, one that will continue to bring about improvements in air quality while avoiding unnecessary burdens on state governments and job creators.”

Watch Chairman Upton’s remarks HERE

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) concluded, “It is possible to pursue policies that simultaneously protect jobs, the economy, and public health and the balanced approach that passed the House today does just that.”

For a fact sheet on the bill, click here.

To view letters of support from over 275 organizations, click here.

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