Continuing his efforts to rein in growing government regulation, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) voted in favor of the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011.

“The EPA’s excessive regulation is destroying jobs and smothering our nation’s economic recovery,” Luetkemeyer said. “Congress should not only look at preventing bad regulations from being promulgated, but should also repeal costly and unnecessary rules that are already on the books.”

The Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 protects American jobs by providing a legislative stay of the overly burdensome Cement Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rules and allowing for the implementation of effective regulation that protects communities both environmentally and economically. The EPA estimates the cost of its new Cement MACT regulations will be $2.2 billion and concedes that the rule may lead to the “idling” or closure of 12 plants. This legislation will ensure the vitality of America’s cement industry, which is crucial to our nation’s infrastructure projects—a key component of the president’s jobs plan.

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