Jerry Moran: “I thank the distinguished ranking member, particularly for his leadership in protecting the public's health. Mr.…”

“I thank the distinguished ranking member, particularly for his leadership in protecting the public's health. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this bill. If this bill is enacted, an intolerable number of American babies will be born with birth defects that could have been avoided. The majority sets out a false choice: roll back clean air protections or lose jobs. The real choice is a moral one, but the economic case for defeating this bill is also compellingly clear. EPA cement kiln rules are designed to reduce harmful pollutants from cement production, including metals like mercury, hydrocarbons, particulate matter, acid gases, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. EPA's standards are both achievable and defensible. They will yield far more economic benefits than costs, preserving jobs and Americans' health. The most harmful of these cement kiln pollutants is mercury. Congress required EPA to regulate mercury emissions in the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments and to identify the largest sources of mercury reductions. EPA has done what we required. These regulations are necessary because cement kilns are the second-largest source of mercury emissions in the United States. Some cement kilns emit more mercury than some coal-fired power plants. One hundred fifty cement kilns operating in the United States emit as much as 27,500 pounds per year, double EPA's estimates from 6 years ago.…”