Sen. Cruz: The EPA’s New Ozone Standard Hurts American Families and the Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today released the following statement upon the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of a stricter standard for ozone levels, lowering the acceptable standard from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion: 

“The EPA’s new ozone standard is the latest in a multitude of back-breaking regulations the Obama Administration is intent on implementing, despite the great harm these regulations will inflict on American consumers, workers, and companies — all for little effect on our nation’s air quality.  

“In Texas, we’re blessed to lead the nation in energy production, but this also means our state faces the greatest damage these job-killing regulations impose. President Obama and his army of regulatory bureaucrats should not further stifle our nation’s economic growth by penalizing one of its only booming sectors. Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area are already struggling to meet the 2008 ozone standard. Not only will this new standard curb the growth of the energy sector, it will also cause Americans’ electricity costs to skyrocket at a time when we can least afford it.

“The devastating effects don’t stop there. Texas is the second largest manufacturing state by employment with approximately 850,000 jobs. With a $3.9 billion increase in compliance costs, this extraneous rule may pose the greatest risk to the chemical and refining companies that call Texas home.

“While the Obama Administration claims this rule will improve air quality and the health of our nation, the facts don’t support that assertion. In fact, the  Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ) found that this change could actually increase mortality rates in areas such as Houston. This demonstrates that, once again, President Obama is more concerned with placating extremist special interests than helping American workers and families escape the failed Obama economy.”

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