On the recordOctober 5, 2011
Let me just say to you that the last 40 years, we've had a lot of economic expansion. Right now we've just come out of a recession. We have a 9.1 percent unemployment rate. Everyone's talking about jobs, and all of the testimony that we've received about these regulations indicates that jobs will be lost. So what's the difference then, if you lose a job, you lose a job? That makes unemployment rates go up. I'm not debating with you that over the last 40 years, generally speaking, we've had economic expansion and job creation, but we're in a very unique time right now, and we think that this is a time in which we need a more balanced approach to some of these regulations. Your amendment specifically looks at respiratory, cardiovascular illnesses, and death, including heart attacks, asthma attacks, and bronchitis. We know that EPA looks at all of this in its health benefits and costs, and we do not think it's necessary to specifically spell this out in our legislation. For that reason, I would respectfully oppose the amendment and ask Members to vote against the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.
