Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CISCOMANI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Palmer for yielding me time to speak in support of H.R. 6409, the FENCES Act.

This commonsense legislation ensures that American communities and manufacturers are not penalized for pollution that they cannot control. Emissions from foreign countries, wildfires, and dust storms should not determine whether our States meet Federal air quality standards.

The FENCES Act restores the original intent of the Clean Air Act by clarifying that foreign emissions, whether natural or man-made, are excluded from compliance determinations and permitting decisions. It also allows States to account for these emissions earlier in the regulatory process, providing certainty and preventing costly delays.

For border communities like those that I represent in southern Arizona, this is about fairness. Our districts should not face economic penalties for pollution originating beyond our own borders.

The FENCES Act strengthens regulatory certainty, supports American jobs, and upholds our Nation's environmental standards. It is also widely supported by the business community and will ensure we are creating an environment in which industry can thrive.

I strongly believe that when we manufacture here in America, we do it better and cleaner than anywhere else in the world, and this legislation is essential in supporting American innovation and excellence across a wide variety of sectors, from mining to chips manufacturing.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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