White House applauds Senate for rejecting proposal to block EPA climate rules

The White House applauded the Senate Wednesday for rejecting amendments to block or limit the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

In a statement, White House press secretary Jay Carney also stressed that the White House "remains committed to protecting" the Clean Air Act.

Here's the full statement:

"The administration is encouraged by the Senate's actions today to defend the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to protect public health under the Clean Air Act. By rejecting efforts to rollback EPA's common-sense steps to safeguard Americans from harmful pollution, the Senate also rejected an approach that would have increased the nation's dependence on oil, contradicted the scientific consensus on global warming, and jeopardized America's ability to lead the world in the clean energy economy. The Clean Air Act is a vital tool in protecting our families — particularly children — from a wide variety of harmful pollutants that cause asthma and lung disease, and the administration remains committed to protecting this important law."

The House is considering Wednesday companion legislation to block EPA climate regulations. The bill is expected to pass, but the White House threatened to veto the measure Tuesday.