Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette). Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Protecting American Energy Production Act. Now, as a Coloradan from an energy-producing State, I don't oppose fracking, and frankly, opposition to fracking is not in the Democratic agenda. However, I think we can all agree that fracking must be done safely and with transparency. This bill would allow natural gas producers to keep abusing loopholes that allow them to hide dangerous chemical components in their fracking fluid, and that is something I don't think any of us should support. Having served as the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security in the last Congress, I have worked closely on this issue for many years. I have introduced legislation that would ensure that our communities would be safe from the dangerous chemicals that are often used in fracking fluid. Fracking releases thousands of harmful chemicals that poison our drinking water and pollute our air, including hydrogen sulfide, which causes nausea, vomiting, and headaches; benzene, a known carcinogen; toxic metals; acids; and even diesel fuel. A significant number of scientific studies prove negative health effects like cancers, asthma, and birth complications are caused by fracking chemicals.…”