On February 3, 2017, freshman Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Fl.) introduced H.R. 861, a bill to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (also known as the EPA). Representative Gaetz's bill, which is only one sentence long, states, "The Environmental Protection Agency shall terminate on December 31, 2018."

On a video posted on his Facebook page, Congressman Gaetz explained, "For six years in the [Florida state] legislature, I had a front row seat to the failures of the federal government in protecting the environment." Gaetz continued, "The question isn't whether to protect the environment. The question is who is better equipped to actually do that?" 

Gaetz further explained that his bill wouldn't affect the 1963 Clean Air Act or the 1972 Clean Water Act. Instead, such responsibilities would return to the states and local communities to address. "The Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, they would stay in effect after my bill, but enforcement of those laws would fall to state and local governments," Gaetz said and further adding, "local communities tend to be able to react a lot quicker." To learn more about Gaetz's bill click here.

Among the bill's original cosponsors, Congressman Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said about his support of the bill, "The Constitution reserves lawmaking authority for the legislative branch not unelected bureaucrats in the executive branch." Massie added, "The EPA makes rules that undermine the voice of the American people and threaten jobs in Kentucky." In addition to Massie, the original cosponsors of Gaetz's bill include Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) and Congressman Steven M. Palazzo (R-Miss.).

Although Gaetz's bill does not specifically address the many unconstitutional federal laws related to the environment that have been passed either prior to or since the EPA was created, the bill is certainly an encouraging first step in the right direction toward removing the federal government from environmental policy. 

If passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, Gaetz's bill would help return the power of environmental policy rightfully back to the states, local communities, and the people, and help turn the tide on the extreme environmental movement that has used the EPA as a catalyst to impose its radical anti-property rights and anti-free market agendas.

Please phone your representative (202-225-3121) and senators (202-224-3121) and ask your representative to cosponsor and support passage of H.R. 861, a bill to abolish the unconstitutional Environmental Protection Agency, and ask your senators to introduce and cosponsor a companion bill in the Senate. Let them know that you support private property rights and want to prevent the federal government from passing laws and creating regulations regarding the environment and to return such power back to the states, local communities, and the people by abolishing the unconstitutional EPA. 

Please email the same message to your congressman.

Thanks.

Your Friends at The John Birch Society

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