Political Quotes

“Mr. President, we rise to highlight two mercury- specific provisions--the creation of a mercury inventory and expansion of the export ban to certain mercury compounds--in the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act that the Senate will approve tonight. These provisions are sections of the Mercury Use Reduction Act that we introduced in the 112th Congress with the late Senator Frank Lautenberg, after whom this legislation is named, and with then-Senator John Kerry. Senator Leahy and Senator Merkley have been longtime partners in these efforts. Senator Leahy was a leader in the Senate's consideration of a resolution of disapproval concerning the Bush administration's mercury rule. I yield to Senator Leahy. Mr. Leahy. Mr. President, I thank Senator Whitehouse. His leadership in this area has been paramount. Under the mercury inventory provision, the EPA will be required to prepare an inventory of mercury supply, use, and trade in the United States every 3 years. Despite an EPA commitment in 2006 to collect this data, there is not yet any good data on mercury supply and uses in the United States. This lack of data has impacted our ability to reduce health risks from mercury exposure and would compromise our ability to comply with the Minamata Convention of Mercury, which will come into force next year and to which the U.S. Government has agreed to become a party.…”