Senate Commerce Republicans Call on NASA to Abandon Biden Admin’s Costly Climate Change Rule

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Sen. Ted Cruz (R.Texas), and 12 Republicans, sent the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Monday’s letter asking for the cancellation of a climate change proposal rule.

It ruleThe requirement that government contractors disclose detailed information regarding climate-related financial risks and greenhouse gas emissions was implemented by NASA, the Department of Defense (DOD), and General Services Administration.

“Congress never granted NASA or the other partnering agencies the statutory authority to set the GHG emission standards for themselves or their contractors,” Commerce Republicans wrote in the letter NASA Administrator Bill Nelson

The lawmakers were concerned that this rule would not be in the best interests of NASA’s mission.

Senators stated that NASA’s mission is to “explore the unknown in air and space, innovate for the benefit of humanity, and inspire the world through discovery.”

“Attention to that critical mission will be diverted instead to a highly politicized regulation,” The letter said.

Following the implementation of the rule, proposed by the Biden administration During the U.N. Climate Change Conference Egypt Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Shalanda Youth said The rule is a significant step in the right direction to reach climate goals.

“As the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services, the federal government has a critical opportunity to leverage its spending power to help reduce climate risks and safeguard taxpayer dollars,” Young said.

The Committee however noted that the regulations would lead to an increase in costs for federal agencies of almost $4Billion.

“As the Senators note, this regulation is estimated to impose substantial costs on federal agencies and contractors, and would empower foreign, non-governmental organizations to make policy decisions without congressional authorization,” In a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee Republican Press Office, press release On Monday

It was questioned by the committee if individual contractors were too expensive, as many are small-sized businesses. “would equal hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars upfront and annually thereafter.”

“Smaller firms with limited streams of resources compared to larger companies may have to either exit the government contracting market or consolidate with other entities,” They wrote.

Concerns were also raised about the possibility that this rule could allow non-governmental foreign organizations to take decisions in the absence of Congress approval, as well as ignore the standards established by the Constitution. Science-Based Target InitiativeThe organization promotes the best practices in emission reductions and net zero targets, in accordance with climate science.

“The rule would require American contractors to adopt arbitrary, vague standards for the measurement, disclosure, and estimation of emissions, ‘risks,’ and reduction targets that have been created and managed by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi),” It reads:

This rule does not apply to tribes, non profit organizations, universities and state or local governments. “entities deriving at least 80 percent of annual revenue from federal management and operating contracts, with no scientific explanation… Making it appear the regulation has less to do with ‘science’ and more to do with political favoritism toward special interest groups.”

The senators voted against the rule.

“After repeated failed attempts to enact radical environmental policies through legislation, this proposed rule is another example of the administration’s strategy to implement its agenda through unelected bureaucrats,” It reads: “Such undemocratic policymaking will only increase costs, reduce progress, and have a chilling effect on needed energy investment in the United States.”

NASA didn’t respond to my request for comment.