Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 21, which would prevent increased drilling on Federal lands under this act until the Secretary of Energy certifies that it would not perpetrate environmental injustice. Let me just thank, first of all, Ranking Member Pallone for his leadership and support in advancing this amendment. My amendment is very simple. It prohibits increases in the percentage of Federal lands leased for oil and gas production under this act, if that new drilling would perpetuate environmental injustice. Environmental justice is the right to a safe, healthy, productive, and sustainable environment for all, regardless of race, class, income, or background. For too long, we have overlooked the impact of environmental issues on underserved communities in this country. EPA data shows that people of color are much more likely to live near polluters and breathe polluted air. For instance, asthma, which is often caused by a particular pollution, impacts approximately 13.4 percent of African- American children, compared to only 7.3 percent of White children. But all low-income people and communities, and especially in poor communities, all communities deserve to be safe from environmental health impacts, and people of all races confront environmental injustice. Rural communities are also adversely impacted by mining pollution and contaminated air and groundwater.…”