Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert was laughed at by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan during a House Oversight Committee hearing.
Regan on Wednesday appeared before the GOP-led House committee to answer questions “on the Biden administration’s push of excessive environmental regulations and abuse of environmental protection authorities,” according to the panel.
During the hearing, Boebert began questioning Regan on the EPA and the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Chevron deference.
“I’m asking about the EPA and I’m asking about your rogue bureaucrats that have enacted these unconstitutional regulations. Are you going to repeal them? Are you going to continue to implement them or are you going to stop all together?” Boebert asked.
In response, Regan questioned Boebert: “Do you understand the ruling?”
The congresswoman answered, “Do you understand the ruling of the Supreme Court?”
Regan interrupts her, saying, “I do … I do, and so your question is ill formed.”
As the two continued wrangling over the ruling, Boebert asked again which regulations the EPA was going to repeal, saying that some were “deemed unconstitutional.” Regan disputed Boebert’s assertion, saying “no” while laughing at the Colorado Republican.
The U.S. Supreme Court last month ruled to overturn the long-standing Chevron deference, which refers to the 1984 decision from Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. The High Court 40 years ago determined that judges should defer to federal agencies in interpreting ambiguous elements of statutes. Instead, the courts will now have the final say on these kinds of statutes, even on highly technical matters.
U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert speaks with reporters as she leaves the U.S. Capitol for the weekend on May 17 in Washington, D.C. Boebert on Tuesday was laughed at while questioning EPA Administrator Michael Regan. U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert speaks with reporters as she leaves the U.S. Capitol for the weekend on May 17 in Washington, D.C. Boebert on Tuesday was laughed at while questioning EPA Administrator Michael Regan. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Last week, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced that Regan would be attending a hearing in front of the panel.
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is not, and should not be, immune to congressional oversight. The EPA has worked closely with the White House to implement sweeping executive orders and burdensome regulations in an effort to advance a radical climate agenda,” Comer said in a statement. “The Committee looks forward to holding the agency accountable next week for its efforts to cement Green New Deal and other misguided priorities that have hurt both American businesses and consumers across the country.”
Newsweek reached out to Boebert’s press office via email for comment on Wednesday.
In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Boebert further criticized the EPA: “Rogue bureaucrats at the EPA continue to pander to Green New Deal extremists. Their overreaching regulations are increasing costs for the American people.”
“I grilled the EPA Administrator today on these unconstitutional rulemakings. Abolish the EPA!” Boebert added.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Summary: During a House Oversight Committee hearing, Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert questioned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan about the agency’s regulations following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn the Chevron deference. This decision, from a 1984 case, previously allowed judges to defer to federal agencies in interpreting ambiguous statutes. Now, courts have the final say on such matters. Boebert accused the EPA of implementing unconstitutional regulations and demanded their repeal. Regan laughed and disputed her claims, questioning her understanding of the ruling. The hearing was part of the committee’s scrutiny of the EPA’s regulations and their impact on businesses and consumers. Boebert later criticized the EPA on social media, calling for its abolishment.
