WASHINGTON (April 7, 2011) – Last night, House Republicans voted down an amendment to the Upton Dirty Air Act that would have preserved EPA’s ability to reduce American oil dependence. Today, House Republicans voted against a measure that would strip EPA of its ability to reduce dangerous carbon pollution. These votes stand as a testament to the Republican priorities of fealty to oil and coal company interests instead of their duty to protect American citizens, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) asserted today.
 
The EPA has the authority to increase the efficiency of cars, trucks, planes, trains, ships and other vehicles to reduce America’s use of oil, the majority of which is imported from foreign nations.
 
“Republicans are voting to increase OPEC’s wealth, and against protecting Americans’ public health,” said Rep. Markey, the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. “While the House Republicans’ bill spurns the reality of climatic changes, the passage of this misguided bill is anti-climactic, as failure of several similar amendments in the Senate yesterday means the House bill was effectively dead before it ever lived.”
 
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