On the recordJuly 7, 2015
According to the American Lung Association's 2015 State of the Air Report, the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which includes both my district and also the Appropriations Subcommittee chair's district, that metropolitan area is the number one in the country for ozone pollution. But ozone pollution is not just a southern California problem. The report shows that more than 40 percent of the United States' population lives in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone. Large cities like Houston and less populated areas like northwest Ohio also make the list. Power plants, motor vehicles, and chemical solvents contribute to the majority of nitrous oxides and volatile organic compounds, NO<INF>X</INF> and VOCs, which react with each other on hot, sunny days to produce ground level ozone. The American Lung Association has pointed out that because hot, sunny days produce the most ozone, climate change is increasing the number of unhealthy ozone level days. We are all familiar with those ``high ozone level'' warnings that happen on really hot, sunny days, and unfortunately, they are becoming more and more common due to global warming. Ground level ozone interacts with lung tissue, can cause major problems for children, the elderly, and anyone with lung disease. Ozone is known to aggravate health problems such as asthma, and it is also linked to low birth rates, cardiovascular problems, and premature death.…
