Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) spearheaded a recent letter to President Donald Trump and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the rescindment of Biden-Harris air pollution policies in Maricopa County.
Last year, the Biden-Harris Administration imposed air quality standards in Arizona targeting PM 2.5 emissions, an air particle created by air pollution that harms health. State Republicans under Senate President Warren Petersen (R-14) fought the measure, calling it "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion."
"This rule will create unnecessary hardships for job creators and hardworking Arizonans. It will detrimentally impact our power grid and create even more red tape for both small and large businesses. We have no choice but to ask the courts to provide relief from this tyrannical, arbitrary, and illegal move by the EPA," Petersen added.
Does Texas have a constitutional right to defy Supreme Court on protecting its border?
Rep. Biggs explained in his letter that residents do not produce or control most of Maricopa County's air pollution. Most of it is from natural or international sources, which the EPA found true.
"Yet, when presented with this evidence, the Biden Administration's EPA explained that they did not have faith in the science and would only follow standard protocols," Rep. Biggs wrote.
More importantly, Arizona has become a significant hub for manufacturing semiconductors, defense contractors, and other industries that create jobs and spur economic growth.
Thus, the Arizona Congressman urged for the repeal of the previous administration's ruling, noting that Zeldin has the authority to do so under the Clean Air Act.
"Choking the life out of a growing economy critical to national security, especially when it will not meaningfully improve the air quality in the area, is contrary to common sense and should not be allowed when Congress has provided an executive agency with sufficient legal authority to stop it," Biggs concluded.
Representatives Eli Crane (R-AZ), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ), and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) are cosigners of the letter.
