Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, we certainly do appreciate this discussion on this important bill. I can tell you that rural America does consider this to be a real problem. The gentleman from California mentioned, correctly so, that we're operating under 1987 particulate matter standards. In 1997 and in 2006, the EPA went back to review that standard. They made a determination at that time that they would not take further action, but they were sued. Litigation ensued, and every 5 years the EPA is required by the Clean Air Act to look at this. {time} 1220 We know there are going to be further lawsuits. And so that's why we think it's absolutely mandatory that Congress assert itself and set out the policy that we do not want EPA regulating the dust on farms and ranches in America. I might also add that in the letter we received from the board of supervisors of the county of Imperial in Arizona, they said the original rule that EPA had covered farms of 40 acres or more, which is 97 percent of all farmland in the Valley. EPA is now insisting that that be changed to all farms of 10 acres or more. And for what purpose? It seems clear that there's absolutely no justification for imposing requirements that would have a negative impact on the economy and the employment in Imperial County when the rules and controls would not change the ability of the county to meet the standards on the few high particulate matter days that are caused by exceptional events.…”