Political Quotes

“Yesterday Republicans told us they aren't opposed to clean air, but we just can't afford it right now. And as their bills have no deadline for ever cleaning up toxic air pollution from these sources, it appears that they don't think we can ever afford clean air even in the future. The truth is we can't afford to wait for clean air any longer, and here's why. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. Numerous scientific studies from around the world show that babies and children who are exposed to mercury may suffer damage to their developing nervous systems, hurting their ability to think, learn, and speak. EPA has estimated that about 7 percent of women of childbearing age are exposed to mercury at a level capable of causing adverse effects in the developing fetus. That may not sound like a big number, but that translates into thousands and thousands of children who may never reach their full potential. Toxic pollution can have tragic consequences. That's why Republicans and Democrats, alike, voted in 1990 to strengthen the Clean Air Act to require dozens of industry sectors to install modern pollution controls on their facilities. And since then, EPA has set emission standards for more than 100 different categories of industrial sources. The standards simply require facilities to use pollution controls that others in their industry are already using. They are based on maximum achievable control technology. EPA's approach has been successful.…”