Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Ahead Of Vote On Republican Resolution To Reverse A Commonsense Measure Which Will Only Increase Gas Costs For Consumers

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of vote on a Republican resolution that would eliminate safeguards put in place through the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce methane waste emissions so that Republicans can bow down to Big Oil and Gas billionaires and ultimately make the cost for consumers go up. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:

Every American should be paying close attention to what’s about to happen on the floor.

In just a few moments, the Senate will vote on a Republican resolution that is straight from the wish list of Big Oil and Big Gas.

Instead of spending floor time pushing legislation that will lower costs for American families, Republicans are bowing to Big Oil and Gas billionaires by trying to reverse the Methane Waste Emissions Charge, which Democrats passed in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Donald Trump and DOGE claim to care about efficiency but Republicans are undoing a measure to reduce oil and gas waste and are making prices for consumers go up. Prices going up when they're saying they want prices to go down.

The rule we passed has been one of our most important tools to lower energy prices, to hold Big Oil and Big Gas accountable, and to keep excessive and harmful levels of methane out of our atmosphere, which my friend Senator Whitehouse has done such a good job on this issue. He tells me it's 80 times as poisonous as CO2.

Without this safeguard, Big Oil and Gas can waste as much natural gas as they like and pass the cost onto consumers.

Why are Republicans doing this?

Well, it’s simple. They are putting the needs of Big Oil and Gas companies over the needs of the American people, over the health of the American people, and the health of our environment, our climate, our globe.

And the consequences for the American people, for their health and their energy bills are going to be very harmful.

I urge my colleagues to think very carefully one last time before voting to overturn it.

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