U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) applauded the Senate’s passage of two bipartisan resolutions to stop the administration’s “Clean Power Plan” laws, which would have adversely impacted Arizona businesses and consumers, last week.

The first measure, co-sponsored by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), would halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan regulations for existing power sources. The second resolution, co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), would halt regulations applying to new power sources.

“Congress sent an important message to the Obama administration that the American people won’t stand for its unconstitutional executive overreach, which is burdening hardworking people in Arizona and across the country,” McCain, an original co-sponsor of both Senate resolutions, said.

“The truth is, the administration’s so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ regulations will do nothing to lower the cost of electricity but will only serve to pass on millions in compliance costs to Arizona businesses and consumers, especially harming low-income families who are least able to afford electricity rate hikes,” McCain said.

The resolutions follow the EPA publication of the Clean Power Plan in the Federal Register. By law, Congress can overturn actions by a federal agency after a rule is formally published and submitted to Congress. If these resolutions become law, they would nullify the Clean Power Plan, retroactively including any portions that have already taken effect.

McCain and Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) have been working together to prevent the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan and other environmental regulations from burdening Arizona’s citizens.

“It’s past time for the Obama administration to start developing thoughtful solutions that actually help get Americans back to work and stop imposing new regulations that are crippling our economy,” McCain said.