On Tuesday, at the Environmental Protection Agency surrounded by American energy workers, public employees and members of Congress, President Donald Trump signed the Energy Independence Executive Order to protect thousands of jobs and strengthen energy security, while also ensuring that our policies provide clean air and clean water for all of our citizens.

The Energy Independence Executive Order directs agencies responsible for regulating domestic energy production to submit plans to the White House, which will identify, and propose measures to revise or rescind, regulatory barriers that impede progress towards energy independence.  Moreover, the Order rescinds several Obama executive orders and policies related to climate change.  It also directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Interior to review, and if necessary, revise or rescind, several regulations that may place unnecessary, costly burdens on coal-fired electric utilities, coal miners, and oil and gas producers.

“The American people deserve an EPA that works to protect both the environment and enables a growing economy,” said Administrator Pruitt. “Our EPA puts America first. President Trump has a clear vision to create jobs and his vision is completely compatible with a clean and healthy environment. By taking these actions today, the EPA is returning the Agency to its core mission of protecting public health while also being pro-energy independence.”

You can see the Executive Order here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/03/28/presidential-executive-order-promoting-energy-independence-and-economi-1

Administrator Scott Pruitt’s Remarks

Thank you, thank you very much. Welcome to the EPA.

Perhaps this is your first visit to the EPA for some of you; it’s good to see some coal miners here at the EPA. So, welcome to you, here.

We are gathered in the map room here at the EPA.  Maps are intended to help you navigate; maps are intended to help you work toward a destination, journey toward a destination, and as we gather here today, the President is setting a new journey, a new pathway forward on how we are going to do business in this country, with respect to energy and the environment.

Number one, the president, by his signature today is rejecting the narrative that this country cannot be both pro-energy and pro-environment.  We have done that throughout our history. We can actually achieve good jobs, good growth and pro-energy policies at the same time as protecting our environment.  The president is sending that message today, by his signature today on this executive order.

But, number two, he’s also setting a pathway forward, a journey to say that we are no longer going to have regulatory assault on any given sector of our economy.  That is going to end by the signing of this executive order. We are not going to allow regulations here at the EPA to pick winners and losers.  And that is going to be very important as we chart the pathway forward.

But, the third thing is that we are going to play within the rules. The EPA should pass rules that are within the framework that Congress has established. That sounds pretty novel, but that is exactly what should occur. We shouldn’t reimagine our authority to pick winners and losers. We are going to provide regulatory certainty. So, the president is setting a new pathway forward that is going to literally make sure that we transform our economy, grow jobs and also protect our environment. And it’s an exciting day and I appreciate his leadership.

I now have the opportunity to introduce a good friend, a patriot, a partner in this process to make sure we are achieving the president’s objectives – the Vice President of the United States, Michael Pence.