Political Quotes

“I rise in strong opposition to this Whitfield amendment, Mr. Chairman. The amendment is objectionable from the standpoint of public health and the legislative process. Throughout the debate on this bill, Mr. Whitfield has claimed that his bill just requires a study and delays two rules for further analysis. Well, the indefinite delay of these two rules is terrible for public health, but this amendment would be a disaster because this amendment nullifies these two critical EPA rules to cut air pollution from old, dirty power plants by requiring them to install modern pollution technology. First, the EPA amendment abolishes EPA mercury air toxics proposal by requiring EPA to start scratch on a rule that's long overdue. There are two rules at stake. The EPA mercury air toxic rule, which was opposed by EPA, would prevent 17,000 deaths, 11,000 heart attacks, 120,000 cases of aggravated asthma, and 850,000 lost workdays each year. Now, that doesn't even include the benefits that are harder to put a dollar figure on such as reducing toxic air pollution that can lead to birth defects and developmental delays. The EPA rule would also prevent 91 percent of the mercury in burned coal from being emitted into the air. Mercury is dangerous in tiny amounts. It's a powerful neurotoxin that can damage the developing brain, leading to learning disabilities and developmental delays in children.…”