Washington, D.C. -- House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s State of the Union Address.
Chairman Smith: “Last night the President emphasized the potential for economic growth if America can lead the world in innovation. But to remain a leader, we don’t simply need more federal spending. We need policies that promote entrepreneurship and private investment. This administration’s job-killing policies have made it more difficult for small businesses to succeed. The American people are tired of the red tape that hampers economic growth. The President correctly said that Americans want politicians in Washington to work together, but not to expand the role of the federal government. Our economy can only grow if we work together to lower taxes, limit burdensome regulations, cut spending and reduce the national debt.
“The Obama Administration has presided over a massive expansion of government that has invaded every part of our daily lives. Nowhere is this more evident than at the EPA. Last night the President lauded his administration’s costly new power plant regulations as a successful approach to combat climate change. Unfortunately, these overreaching new standards will have very little impact on greenhouse gas concentrations, but they will have a very real impact on the energy bills of hard working American families.
“The President also once again claimed to support increased domestic energy production. We’ve heard it before. But from coal-killing EPA regulations to continual opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline, the President’s policies promote more regulation, not more energy. The Obama administration has taken every opportunity to obstruct energy development, while simultaneously taking credit for America’s recent natural gas energy boom. Next Wednesday February 5, the Science Committee will hold a hearing to examine the science behind the Obama administration’s overreaching regulations. The hearing will focus on the cumulative economic impacts of regulations on my home state of Texas.”