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 Congressman Steve Daines today joined nearly two dozen House and Senate members in condemning President Obama’s recently proposed energy regulations and sharing the detrimental effects that these new rules would have on Montana families supported by coal jobs.

In a press conference held in front of the U.S. Capitol, Daines called the Obama administration’s new policy a “war on American energy and a war on Montana families,” noting that the regulations could lead to higher energy prices for Montana families and lost jobs in Montana.

Click here to download video of Daines’ remarks

“The number one source of electricity in Montana is coal,” Daines stated. “And it’s important for us not only for jobs and for cheap electricity, but it funds our schools. That tax base is so important. You may not realize that Montana has the largest recoverable coal deposits in the country. No other state has more coal than the state of Montana.

“It’s interesting to have the Boilermakers union coming into my office and saying ‘what do we need to do here to stop these job-killing regulations from President Obama,” Daines added. “They’re wondering ‘is the EPA the Environmental Protection Agency, or does it really stand for the Employment Prevention Agency?’ We’re going to fight against these regulations because it’s a tax on hard-working families, it affects our schools in terms of compromising our tax base, and ultimately, it dilutes our ability to compete globally in the manufacturing economy.”

Daines, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and Congressional Coal Caucus, also noted that more than 50 percent of Montana’s electricity comes from coal and that Montana’s coal mining industry employs more than 1200 workers. In addition to supporting Montana schools, Montana coal production also provides valuable tax revenue that helps strengthen and maintain Montana’s infrastructure.

Additional participants in this morning’s press conference included:

Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY)

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)

Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV)

Rep. Hal Rodgers (R-KY)

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)

Rep. Brett Guthrie R-KY)

Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)

Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO)

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH)

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)

Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY)

Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

Rep. Steve Daines (R-MT)

Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)

Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO)

Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN)