Republican Senators write EPA seeking support for smaller refineries to counter Dem push

In Washington, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) urged Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler to “stand with the hardworking men and women of small refineries across the country”, and block Senate Democrats’ attempts to roll back President Trump’s energy independence accomplishments.

Recently 12 Senate Democrats, five of whom cosponsored the radical, socialist Green New Deal, penned a letter to Administrator Wheeler urging the agency to cease issuing Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs).

“I urge Administrator Wheeler and the administration to stand with hardworking refinery workers across this country and continue enacting policies that promote greater energy independence,” Sen. Cruz said. “Under President Trump’s leadership, America is now the number one energy producer in the world. Not only do these Democrats want to roll that back, four of them want to end oil production in this country all together. It is important to refinery workers across the country that these 12 Democrats do not undermine America’s energy renaissance, and set the administration’s policy on Small Refinery Exemptions. During his confirmation process, Administrator Wheeler expressed his commitment to following the law and continuing the legally required granting of SREs to those small refineries that qualify. It is my hope that Administrator Wheeler will uphold the rule of law and President Trump’s promise to the thousands of blue collar workers whose jobs depend on reducing federal compliance costs for our nation’s independent refiners.”