Political Quotes

“the amendment I am offering today with Senators Mikulski, Baucus, Lautenberg, Bradley, Kerry, Lieberman, Metzenbaum, and Leahy would change the drinking water standard-setting process by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to consider sound scientific evidence, including two recent studies by the National Academy of Sciences, indicating that our children and other vulnerable groups may be at greater risk from environmental threats such as drinking water contamination than average healthy adults. While in some cases, such as in issuing its standard for lead, EPA has considered the health effects of a contaminant on children or on other vulnerable populations, it has not done so systematically. My amendment builds upon the Kerrey-Hatfield amendment approved last week that requires that research on sensitive subpopulations be conducted. This amendment takes the next step and requires that scientific data on vulnerable groups be considered consistently and systematically. Mr. President, a few days ago, I had the privilege of joining the First Lady as we listened to a group of very special children tell their stories. These children are fighting for their lives. And as they bravely face life-threatening illnesses with their families, they are discovering an unfortunate truth about America--we do not always do a very good job of protecting our most vulnerable citizens from illness or caring for them once they get sick.”