James M. Jeffords: “I wish to speak on the subject of the threat to lives in the United States of a different and more insidious nature, and…”

“I wish to speak on the subject of the threat to lives in the United States of a different and more insidious nature, and in the long run much more costly in human lives as well as health conditions-- air pollution and the administration's failure to recognize this threat through adequate pollution controls. I rise today to draw Senators' attention to the administration's flawed plans on air pollution and global warming. I am pleased to see that the administration has finally revived an interest in dangerous public health and environmental threats like acid rain and smog. They have even acknowledged that climate change could have severe and damaging consequences. Unfortunately, the administration's solution seems to be little more than a public relations distraction from what is really going on: corporate regulatory relief. What Americans really need now is relief from air pollution, and swift and serious action to avert global warming. They have a right to breathe air that isn't contaminated by greed. They have a right to full and vigorous implementation of the Clean Air Act. Sadly, the administration has lost sight of these rights.”