Senate Rejects Vote on CRA to Reinstate National Methane Compliance Deadlines

Background: Today, the Senate rejected a motion to vote on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution introduced by Senators Schiff and Whitehouse that sought to overturn a Trump administration rule delaying compliance deadlines for oil and gas companies to meet federal methane pollution limits. The motion failed by a vote of (46 – 51). The Trump delay will give the industry an extra 18 months to avoid implementing emission controls with limited public input. This rollback will allow an estimated 3.8 million additional tons of methane and other harmful air pollutants to be released, which is equivalent to the electricity use of 22,173,299 homes for one year, according to the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

Statement by Earthworks Policy Director Lauren Pagel:

“Senate Republicans’ choice to side with big oil and gas billionaires keeps American families at high risk from harmful pollution. Cutting methane pollution saves valuable energy resources, keeps our air cleaner and slows the pace of climate change. 

“We’re grateful to the Senators who stood up for public health and accountability by voting to protect these standards. Everyone deserves to breathe clean air and a government for the people, not polluters.”