OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

S.J. Res. 188

Floor Speech

Date: June 3, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to S.J. Res. 188, the CRA introduced by my colleague from Rhode Island Senator Whitehouse to overturn the Trump EPA's repeal of the Biden MATS rule. This rule would reinstate the 2024 MATS rule that was part of the Biden administration's power sector strategy specifically designed to shut down coal-fired powerplants.

During the Biden administration, we witnessed a regulatory attack that targeted affordable and reliable sources of energy that extreme environmentalists just do not like. The result was predictable and one that many of us warned about: The Biden administration created a grid reliability crisis and increased power prices.

We are now in a critical moment for American energy. We must ensure the energy required to onshore American manufacturing, win the AI race, and keep our lights on and our homes warm while addressing energy costs for families and businesses. We should be expanding our energy production and electric generation, not shutting it down. The Biden-era MATS rule and this CRA that would resuscitate that rule are intended to close coal- fired powerplants.

In 2020, the EPA found that the existing MATS standards are protective of public health. Let me say that again. In 2020, the EPA found that the existing--pre to the Biden rule--MATS standards are protective of public health, with an ample margin of safety, and that revisions are not necessary. This finding was reaffirmed with, by, and for the Biden administration.

According to the EPA, by 2021, mercury emissions from coal-fired powerplants were down 90 percent compared to pre-2012 levels. Despite these facts, the Biden EPA proceeded to finalize a rulemaking that had $860 million in compliance costs, which is twice as much as the claimed benefits.

The Trump administration has rightfully repealed these unnecessary and stringent standards.

This CRA would return to the failed policies of shutting down American energy, increasing consumer costs and putting American energy workers out of business. So I urge my colleagues to vote no on this CRA.

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