Jeanne Shaheen: “I am here to join my colleagues who have been on the floor of the Senate today, with the leadership of Senator Boxer, to…”

“I am here to join my colleagues who have been on the floor of the Senate today, with the leadership of Senator Boxer, to oppose amendments that would undermine the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act has been one of the greatest public health success stories we have ever had in this country. In 1970, Republicans and Democrats came together to pass this landmark legislation to address air pollution that was leading to countless deaths and lifetimes spent battling chronic illness, illnesses such as asthma and emphysema. That legislation, back in 1970, was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. It is very clear that the threat of greenhouse gas emissions to public health is real. Two years ago the EPA found that manmade greenhouse gas emissions threaten the health and welfare of the American people. Their decision was not made in a vacuum and, despite what some of the supporters of these harmful amendments may claim, EPA's decision was based on the best peer-reviewed science. They were guided by the best science protecting the public health, not politics. The American Lung Association, the American Public Health Association, the Trust for America's Health and the American Thoracic Society--some of our Nation's leading public health experts--all opposed these misguided efforts to stop EPA from protecting our clean air. We have heard the same story from polluters over and over.…”