Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3409, the ``Stop the War on Coal Act.'' This legislation represents the wish list of our Nation's worst polluters. It would do nothing to make our country more energy independent, but it would strip Americans of basic clean air and clean water protections. Several provisions of the bill have previously been considered by the Energy and Commerce Committee, on which I serve, and they are no better than when they were first introduced. They would all have a devastating impact on human health and the environment. H.R. 3409 would eliminate tailpipe standards to reduce carbon pollution from model year 2017-2025 vehicles, bar EPA from requiring power plants and refineries to reduce carbon pollution, and undo requirements for power plants and refineries to disclose their carbon pollution. Those provisions would make our air dirtier without promoting job growth or energy independence. The bill would delay the enforcement of the Mercury and Air Toxics and Cross-State Air Pollution standards. The Mercury and Air Toxics Standard will prevent 4,500 cases of acute bronchitis, 12,000 emergency room visits, 120,000 cases of aggravated asthma and more than 6,800 premature deaths annually. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule will prevent 19,000 cases of acute bronchitis, 15,000 nonfatal heart attacks, 400,000 cases of aggravated asthma, and 34,000 deaths per year. Every year these regulations are delayed, over 40,000 preventable deaths will occur.…”