Congressmen Brett Guthrie and Morgan Griffith announced a hearing to discuss the impact of the Clean Air Act on infrastructure development and American innovation. The hearing, titled “Short-Circuiting Progress: How the Clean Air Act Impacts Building Necessary Infrastructure and Onshoring American Innovation,” will explore potential legislative solutions to enhance domestic manufacturing and support American jobs.
“American innovation should not be stifled by unreasonable government red tape and regulatory overreach,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith. They emphasized that regulations have historically exceeded their intended purpose, discouraging investments and pushing manufacturing overseas. The hearing aims to examine ways Congress can amend environmental statutes to foster a more conducive environment for innovation.
The Subcommittee on Environment will conduct the hearing on June 11, 2025, at 10:15 AM in the Rayburn House Office Building. It will be open to the public and press, with a livestream available on energycommerce.house.gov.
John D. Walke from the Natural Resources Defense Council testified against two draft bills—the Clean Air and Economic Advancement Reform Act (CLEAR Act) and the Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvement Act—arguing they compromise public health protections under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Walke criticized these bills for eliminating health-based standards, delaying necessary updates, undermining enforcement measures, threatening public health progress, and presenting misleading industry claims.
Walke urged Congress to reject both bills, highlighting that the CAA’s science-based framework has effectively balanced air quality improvements with economic growth. He stressed that proposed changes would prioritize corporate interests over public health.
For further inquiries about this hearing, contact Calvin Huggins or Ben Mullany via email.
Information from this article can be found here.
