On the recordOctober 5, 2011
I thank the gentleman. We know this $8.7 billion can now be quantified. There are so many other things that mercury does, I won't go into them. But this cement kiln rule also applies to other harmful pollutants. The fact is, Mr. Chairman, that the majority constantly urges us to balance the costs and benefits of environmental regulation, but when the benefits of regulating hazardous pollution substantially outweigh the costs, as they do with mercury, all of a sudden that doesn't become an issue for the debate. It ought to be an issue for the debate, because it's about the future health of our children. If we don't defeat this bill, if it were to be enacted, children will suffer and our economy will become weaker. The fact is that we have both a moral and an economic responsibility to defeat this bill, and thus I urge its defeat.
