Steven Holt: “I thank my colleague from California. For 40 years, the Clean Air Act has been successful in reducing emissions in the…”

“I thank my colleague from California. For 40 years, the Clean Air Act has been successful in reducing emissions in the atmosphere, pollution that kills people. Thousands of people are alive today because of the Clean Air Act. None of them know who they are. It might be people in this Chamber, some of us. And the success of the Clean Air Act is due in large part to being enacted and strengthened based on the best science available to find effective ways to remove the worst pollutants from our air. The legislation before us today--appropriately nicknamed the ``dirty air act''--would gut the Clean Air Act and prevent EPA scientists from doing their jobs. The Clean Air Act was written wisely to allow the safeguards to grow with the scientific understanding of the dangers proposed by various chemicals in the air and with the technological means for controlling those pollutants. Carbon pollution, a couple of years ago, was determined by EPA scientists to endanger the health and welfare of the American people. EPA scientists should be allowed to continue their work. Air pollution is costly in lives and in dollars. The Clean Air Act is successful. The legislation must be protected.”