Paul Tonko

Excluding climate from the budget, eliminating research and voluntary industry partnership programs and weakening modest, existing rules... does not give me any indication that the Agency is taking this environmental threat seriously.

I believe many of us are concerned that EPA is not acting urgently or comprehensively enough to address serious risks to Americans' drinking water.

This Administration is clearly shouting that it doesn't care about safe drinking water.

I am extremely concerned by the political leadership's continued treatment of scientific expertise within the agency and outside advisors.

If enacted, I fear this funding level will jeopardize the Agency's ability to fulfill its mission of protecting Americans' health and our environment.

This budget proposal simply does not allow the EPA to fulfill its mission to the American people, and therefore it is a proposal that we must reject.

It is imperative that this transition is fair to impacted workers and communities. We cannot leave anyone behind.

The science is clear--we need to transition our economy to becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible.

The EPA established the lead action level in 1991 based on feasibility and not based on impact on public health.

In 2004, EPA initiated a review of the lead and copper Rule following the lead crisis in Washington, DC 16 years later, we are still waiting for EPA to finalize its long-term revision.

The revision as proposed will not require the action needed to get lead out of our drinking water systems.

But I must point out inaccuracies in the document. In the release, the EPA claims that my colleagues and I deliberately chose to exclude them. That is simply not true.

The area of safe drinking water, which obviously is a fundamental right and a fundamental duty of our federal government, is our focus here today.

We have known for decades that there is no safe level of lead for children.

I strongly support additional federal funding to ensure that state and local governments, schools, daycares, and water utilities have the resources necessary to map and replace water infrastructure containing lead as quickly as possible.

I expect we will hear today that the proposal still needs work and, in my opinion, it falls far short of the meaningful protective action necessary to get lead out of our drinking water systems.

The past 24 years of SDWA... have made it clear that the regulatory framework for standard setting has left Americans dangerously exposed.

We can either do a relief for those most wealthy and bloat our deficit or we can prioritize our children and their health.

Action to get the lead out of our water systems starts with identifying existing service lines and making that information publicly available.

We must also strengthen EPA's Underground Injection Control Program to ensure that it protects underground sources of drinking water.

Simply put, climate change is worsening fires, which cause more climate damage.

The lack of uniformity has impeded interstate commerce, compromised the international competitiveness of the industry, and undermined public confidence in the integrity of the sport.

Simply quenching them without addressing their root cause is incomplete and irresponsible.

I am pleased that we are holding this hearing today to learn about the Horseracing Integrity Act and how we can ensure that the sport of kings continues to thrive well into the future.

By advancing the Horseracing Integrity Act and placing the majestic equine athletes front and center, we can truly capture the imagination of the Nation.