Florida Senate - 2011                            (NP)    SR 1260
       
       
       
       By Senator Bennett
       
       
       
       
       21-01001-11                                           20111260__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution opposing the plan by the United States
    3         Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse
    4         gases under the Clean Air Act.
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency
    7  has released an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that
    8  describes a nationwide scheme to regulate greenhouse gases under
    9  the Clean Air Act, and
   10         WHEREAS, the American Legislative Exchange Council has
   11  previously stated its opposition to the Environmental Protection
   12  Agency regulating greenhouse gases and has stated that if it
   13  pursues such a course, at the very least, additional action by
   14  Congress would be required to clarify and specify the
   15  Environmental Protection Agency’s legal and regulatory
   16  obligations pertaining to greenhouse gases, and
   17         WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to
   18  regulate greenhouse gases is very expansive in scope,
   19  envisioning a nationwide cap-and-trade program for greenhouse
   20  gases, additional motor vehicle regulations, and economy-wide
   21  restrictions impacting a wide range of industries, including
   22  dairy and beef operations, office buildings, hospitals, schools,
   23  large homes, houses of worship, and even emissions from
   24  lawnmowers, and
   25         WHEREAS, the United States Court of Appeals for the
   26  District of Columbia Circuit recently ruled that the
   27  Environmental Protection Agency does not have authority to
   28  implement a cap-and-trade plan under the Clean Air Act, and
   29         WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan
   30  represents policymaking, which is the prerogative of the
   31  legislative branch, and
   32         WHEREAS, even committed proponents of ambitious greenhouse
   33  gas regulation have expressed doubts about the advance notice of
   34  proposed rulemaking, and
   35         WHEREAS, climate change is a global issue, not a local or
   36  regional pollution issue that the Clean Air Act was designed to
   37  address, and
   38         WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan would
   39  impose a massive economic burden on this country without
   40  appreciably reducing worldwide concentrations of greenhouse
   41  gases, NOW, THEREFORE,
   42  
   43  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   44  
   45         That the United States Environmental Protection Agency is
   46  requested to not make an endangerment finding for greenhouse
   47  gases and to not pursue regulation of greenhouse gasses.
   48         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution,
   49  signed by the President of the Senate, with the Seal of the
   50  Senate attached, be transmitted to the President of the United
   51  States, to the President of the United States Senate, to the
   52  Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to each
   53  member of the Florida delegation to the United States Congress,
   54  and to the Administrator of the Unites States Environmental
   55  Protection Agency.