Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am compelled to rise in opposition to this resolution which would block the EPA's ``good neighbor'' clean air rule from being implemented. Before I talk about the real-world impacts that would result if we block this new clean air rule, I would like to go back in time 21 years ago when this body debated the last major update to the Clean Air Act. That day, we weren't debating how to weaken or delay our clean air laws, we were considering bipartisan legislation that would improve our clean air laws and make them stronger. Eighty-nine Senators approved the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990, a Republican President, George Herbert Walker Bush, signed them into law, and we are all the better for it. I believe we can protect our environment and grow our economy at the same time. It doesn't have to be one or the other. The Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 are great examples of just that. For every dollar we have spent installing new pollution controls and cleaning up our air, we have seen a $30 return in reduced health care costs, better workplace productivity, and saved lives. In other words, for four decades fewer people have gotten sick and missed work because of the Clean Air Act. Just last year, it is estimated that 160,000 lives were saved from the Clean Air Act protections in place today. Here is some more good news. Our economy didn't take a slide because of these protections either. Quite the opposite.…”