Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1435. This legislation specifically targets the ability of my home State of California and the ability of 17 other States to set their own auto emission standards, improve public health, and tackle the climate crisis. With this legislation, my Republican colleagues are propping up the fossil fuel industry at the expense of the environment and pushing their polluters over people agenda, which endangers the health of the American people. Over 100 million people live in counties with unhealthy air pollution, and air pollution is linked to more than 100,000 premature deaths in the United States every year. The transportation sector is the largest contributor to the emission of greenhouse gases, making up one-third of total pollution. In the mid-20th century, California was plagued by smog from vehicles that spewed pollution into the air and caused hazardous health conditions for residents. With this reality in mind, my State took action. California has been a national leader in addressing air pollution from the transportation sector for decades and has regulated vehicle emissions for years. In fact, California established the first tailpipe emission standards in the country in 1966, well before the Federal Government did. A year later, then-Governor Reagan approved the Mulford-Carrell Air Resources Act to create the State Air Resources Board. You heard that right.…”