On the recordFebruary 8, 2011
I can't think frankly of a more reckless idea than repeal of all or parts of the Clean Air Act. It would transform the quality of life for all Americans. Our colleague from Illinois' comments about having children who live in Chicago, the number one asthma affected municipality in the United States, really resonates with me. I also have a close relative here in the Nation's capital, I represent the suburbs of Washington, DC, and I can tell you that as a nonattainment region, we have significant health effects from our air pollution. We are a nonattainment region as measured by the Environmental Protection Agency, and cleaning up our air quality is critical to thousands of people and thousands of children whose health depends on the efficacy of the Clean Air Act and making sure it is fully implemented. I wanted just to share with my friend from New York and my colleagues tonight some of the costs of repealing the Clean Air Act, because I think Americans need to focus on that.
