Paul Tonko: “The third document I include in the Record is a letter signed by 15 medical and public health organizations, again…”

“The third document I include in the Record is a letter signed by 15 medical and public health organizations, again, opposing the bill. July 17, 2017. Dear Representative: Clean air is fundamental for good health, and the Clean Air Act promises all Americans air that is safe to breathe. The undersigned public health and medical organizations urge you to oppose H.R. 806, the so-called ``Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017.'' A more fitting name for this legislation would be the ``Smoggy Skies Act,'' as it delays lifesaving standards to reduce ozone pollution, or smog, and permanently weakens the Clean Air Act. Clear, up-to-date, scientific evidence documented the need for greater protection from ozone pollution, and drove the stronger limit on ozone that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized in 2015. To meet the updated standard, the states have clear authority and plenty of time to plan and then work to reduce pollution under the Clean Air Act's long-established, balanced implementation timeline. Despite those facts, the Smoggy Skies Act imposes additional delays and sweeping changes that will threaten health, particularly the health of children, seniors and people with chronic disease. The Smoggy Skies Act also reaches far beyond implementation of the current ozone standards. It permanently weakens the Clean Air Act and future air pollution health standards for all criteria pollutants.…”