On the recordJune 20, 2012
we are faced with a resolution today to essentially repeal something that has been 20 years in the making and is about to go into effect. It would stop the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, from implementing the first-ever national mercury and air toxics standards for powerplants. A little bit later I will talk about what mercury does to people. Let me assure you, it is not good. I will also talk about the other toxics that are emitted from these dirty plants. They are not good either. When I mention them, just the names will scare us because they are names such as arsenic and formaldehyde--not good. They are going into our lungs. The mercury is getting into fish. People are getting sick. That is why this is such a dangerous moment if we were to pass this and stop the EPA from doing this. We know that for every $3 we invest--every $1 to $3--we are going to get back $9 in health benefits. If we do the math and we follow the math, it is clear this is cost-effective and critically important. Ask a parent who has a child who is rushed to the emergency room with asthma whether they want this done. Ask a coal-fired utility that has made these improvements already--half of them have--and they will tell us there has been hardly any impact on electricity prices, and they are happy with them.…
