Patrick Leahy: “today I again will discuss mercury pollution and the serious and immediate health risks it poses to the health of…”

“today I again will discuss mercury pollution and the serious and immediate health risks it poses to the health of citizens across our Nation. This is not a new issue. We have known about mercury pollution for decades, and it remains one of, if not the last, major toxic pollutant without a comprehensive plan to control its release. We know where the sources mercury pollution are, we know where the pollution deposits, and we definitely know what harm it causes to people and to wildlife. We need to confront mercury pollution because it is a threat to pregnant women and children. The Environmental Protection Agency's own scientists estimate that one of every six women of child-bearing age has elevated levels of mercury in her body above safe thresholds. Mercury can cause neurological harm to children exposed to increased mercury levels while in the womb and during the first few years of their lives, which can lead to increased risk for learning disabilities, developmental delays, and other serious problems. Just last year EPA scientists nearly doubled the previous estimate of the number of children at increased risk from exposure to elevated mercury levels in their mothers' wombs from 300,000 to over 600,000. This finding should alarm all of us and spur this Administration to promptly develop strong controls on mercury pollution from power plants that meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act and that fully protect women and children.…”