Frank Pallone

The Affordable Care Act has put Medicare on a path towards post-acute reform. However, there is still much more that needs to be done.

One of the reasons why EPA projects that there will be lower electricity bills is the point that has been described previously.

I know everyone is concerned about rates and reliability, so, Ms. Tierney, I wanted to ask you a little bit about rates.

It seems to me that today's discussion draft would endanger lives and jeopardize health are dramatically weakening and delaying Clean Air Act safeguards.

I am particularly interested in, Madam Administrator, because my district has some of the highest rates of asthma in the United States.

So it is obvious that these emissions have significant health impacts that threaten the lives and wellbeing of people all over America.

It is a fact, is it not, that the United States emits more carbon pollution than any other nation except China, and existing power plants are the country's largest single source of carbon pollution?

And let me remind my colleagues that the Clean Air Act was enacted by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, was signed into law by President Nixon, and it stands as one of the most successful public health laws in our Nation's history.

The effort by Republicans on this committee to push States to say no and refuse to cooperate with EPA is reckless and dangerous.

Under this bill, large sources of carbon pollution could be exempt from any meaningful restrictions.

I do not support this legislation, and urge members to closely examine its harmful effects on our country's progress to combat damaging pollution and catastrophic climate change.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It would indeed set a dangerous precedent to most Clean Air Act and to the overall public health if Congress were to enact a law that would allow 50 Governors to simply veto Federal environmental policy.

Allowing Governors to join in this attempt to just say no to the Clean Power Plan will fly in the face of decades of the Clean Air Act's use of cooperative federalism.

To delay is to deny, and this certainly is the Just Say No bill.

The effort by Republicans on this committee to push States to 'say no' and refuse to cooperate with EPA is both reckless and dangerous.

This bill would provide an incentive for polluters to 'run the clock' on litigation.

This bill would give Governors the option to opt out of a Federal plan.

The Clean Power Plan is eminently reasonable and achievable.

Just saying no and condemning future generations is not an option.

That blanket extension would be given to all polluters regardless of whether their legal arguments turn out to have any merit.

This bill would give Governors the option to opt out of a Federal plan which EPA must implement if a State fails to act.

Today's hearing on a bill to gut the President's Clean Power Plan is misguided and unfortunate.

I believe the draft shows the chairman's intent to ensure that the problems identified in Corrosion Proof Fittings are addressed.

I see some areas for improvement but I also think there are a lot of strong points in the chairman's discussion draft.