Washington, D.C. –Congressman Rick Berg today voted in support of legislation that calls for the analysis of the economic effects of major Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

The Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act requires that the EPA’s large environment regulations are analyzed to determine the full impact that these rules have on the American economy.  It passed through the House this afternoon by a vote of 249 – 169.

“Here in North Dakota, we know the damaging effects that overbearing government regulations can have on our small businesses, farmers and ranchers,” Berg stated. “Too often, the EPA imposes new rules, without taking into account how these regulations will affect our economy and our small businesses’ ability to create jobs. These burdensome regulations hinder job creation and force undue uncertainty and unnecessary costs upon our small businesses.  Given the economic challenges facing our nation, it is critical that barriers to job creation and economic growth are broken down. The TRAIN Act will ensure that the economic impact of the EPA’s regulations is fully understood and that the facts about the consequences of many of these regulations are disclosed to the American public.”

A member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Berg has worked to limit government regulation on American small businesses by co-sponsoring the REINS Act and the repeal of the 1099 filing mandate. Berg also serves as a member of the Congressional Job Creators Caucus.

Background

The TRAIN Act: What it Will Do

·         H.R. 2401, the TRAIN Act will require interagency committee to assess the combined impacts of recent large environmental regulations. It will analyze global economic competitiveness of the United States and the effect of regulations on electricity prices, fuel prices, employment, and the reliability of the electricity supply.

·         The TRAIN Act will assess how regulations affect consumers, small businesses, state, local and tribal governments, local and industry-specific labor markets, and agriculture.

·         An initial draft of the report will be made available for public comment and the interagency committee will respond to comments in the final report.

·         In addition, H.R. 2401 will delay implementation of EPA's controversial Utility MACT rule and new transport rule to ensure that the economic impacts of these two major rules in conjunction with other EPA rules are fully understood. NERA Economic Consulting projects the costs of these two rules taken together could amount to $17.8 billion annually with a total cost of $184 billion (present value) for the period 2011-2030. The rules are also estimated to result in 1.44 million lost job-years by 2020 and an increase in electricity prices by 12% nationally and as high as 24% in certain states by 2016.

The TRAIN Act: What it Will Not Do

·         The TRAIN Act will not prevent EPA from continuing to develop regulations.

·         The TRAIN Act will not limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to protect public health and welfare in any way.

·         The TRAIN Act will not compel any legal regulatory framework to be based upon the final analysis. NERA Economic Consulting has estimated preliminary costs for the two rules to be $17.8 billion annually, and a total cost of $184 billion (present value) for the period 2011-2030, price increases of 12% nationally in 2016 and as high as 24% in certain states, and 1.44 million lost job-years by 2020.

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