Political Quotes

“I would like to talk about the nomination of Gina McCarthy to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. I had the pleasure of meeting with her earlier in the confirmation process and talking with her at length about many important issues. She is experienced. I believe she is a good person. She has given her assurance that EPA would become more responsive--at least my interpretation of her response would be that-- and her management has been encouraging. However, the Environmental Protection Agency appointment is no small matter. The job of EPA Administrator has the potential to impact the life of every American in both positive and negative ways. For example, in the 1970s, Congress passed the Clean Air Act. It focused on pollutants. We were talking about NO<INF>X</INF> and SO<INF>X</INF>, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide, particulates, things that adversely affect the health of Americans. At that point in time, we had no dream in our mind of a problem-- global warming--that might arise and become a big issue in the future, nor did Congress have any inclination that carbon dioxide, plant food, that product in the atmosphere that plants take in and breathe out oxygen--we breathe in oxygen and out CO<INF>2</INF>--would be declared a pollutant. By a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court seemed to declare that, although it was not absolutely mandatory, EPA could regulate CO<INF>2</INF> under the Clean Air Act. EPA has seized that authority.…”