Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to uphold limits on EPA’s authority and reaffirm Congress’ Article 1 power:

“Today’s decision is a win for rural America. The Court rightfully ruled that it is up to lawmakers – those of us who represent the American people –  to determine policy to protect our air and environment, not unelected bureaucrats,” said Chairman Newhouse. “President Biden’s climate agenda has failed because it is extreme, not based in science, and conforms to radical special interest groups’ ideological pursuits. This Administration’s climate-related top-down mandates are unrealistic and unworkable, and – according to today’s ruling – they are also unconstitutional.”

He continued, “Members of the Western Caucus continue to put forward meaningful, free-market solutions that take into account local voices and the work already being done on the ground that has already made the United States the world leader in emissions reduction. These are the solutions we should be pursuing to ensure American innovation succeeds and that we have clean air and water for generations to come.”

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of West Virginia. The decision reads, “But the only interpretive question before us, and the only one we answer, is more narrow: whether the ‘best system of emission reduction’ identified by EPA in the Clean Power Plan was within the authority granted to the Agency in Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. For the reasons given, the answer is no.”

In December, Chairman Newhouse and several Western Caucus Vice Chairs and Members joined Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in submitting an amicus brief in support of the petitioners. Click here to learn more.