Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011

Washington, Sep 21 - Today, Congressman John Sullivan, issued the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to pass H.R. 2681, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011.  Sullivan introduced this bipartisan bill to prevent U.S cement plant shutdowns and to protect thousands of American jobs.  Estimates show that EPA’s current Cement MACT rules could shut down up to 20 percent of the nation’s cement plants in the next two years, sending thousands of jobs overseas and driving up construction costs. This legislation will ensure the vitality of America’s cement industry which is crucial to our nation’s infrastructure projects—a key component of the president’s jobs plan.

“Cement is the backbone for the construction of our nation’s buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels, and crucial water and wastewater treatment infrastructure – however EPA’s current rules threaten to shut down 20 percent of the nation’s cement manufacturing plants in the next two years, sending thousands of jobs permanently overseas and driving up cement and construction costs across the country.  This is a jobs bill that protects American workers, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act would save nearly 20,000 U.S. cement and construction jobs by laying out a path for common sense regulation without eviscerating one-fifth of the U.S. cement sector.  Now more than ever our focus must be on putting American back to work and growing our economy – I applaud my colleagues for passing this common sense legislation which ensures effective regulations that protect communities both environmentally and economically”