Congressmen Brett Guthrie and Morgan Griffith announced a hearing to address 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,” aims to explore legislative solutions for improving environmental statutes, enhancing domestic manufacturing, and supporting American jobs.
Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith said, “American innovation should not be stifled by unreasonable government red tape and regulatory overreach. Over the years we saw how regulations have gone far beyond their original intent, chilling investments and pushing manufacturing overseas.” The hearing will provide an opportunity to discuss potential changes to make these statutes more effective.
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 both the public and press and can be viewed via livestream at energycommerce.house.gov.
Dr. James W. Boylan from Georgia’s Air Protection Branch testified before the subcommittee regarding challenges with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). He highlighted issues such as impractical review timelines, attainability problems due to natural events like wildfires, and an imbalance in advisory committee representation. Dr. Boylan proposed extending NAAQS reviews to a 10-year cycle for stability, reforming committee membership to include state agency representatives, issuing guidance alongside new standards, recognizing prescribed fires as exceptional events, and adjusting permitting requirements.
He concluded by emphasizing Georgia’s significant emissions reduction since 1990 while maintaining economic growth. Dr. Boylan advocated for modernizing NAAQS processes to balance environmental protection with economic development.
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