Political Quotes

“there was a time when strong bipartisan majorities in Congress sided with the interests and views of the American people about curbing pollution to safeguard the public's right to a clean and healthy environment. Citizens placed their trust in the government to act on their behalf, to set science-based health standards to protect the air we breathe. On both sides of the aisle, there was an understanding that a healthy environment was critical to our families, our livelihoods, our economy, and our Nation. To improve the Nation's air quality, Congress almost unanimously passed the Clean Air Act in 1970, under President Richard Nixon. Congress then passed the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, again with overwhelming majorities in both Chambers, under President George H.W. Bush. As part of the 1990 Amendments, Congress specifically required the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to address emissions that interfere with another State's ability to protect public health through air quality requirements. Yet today we still lack the appropriate pollution limits necessary to protect each and every American from drifting smog and soot pollutants, and to protect States from bearing the health and economic costs of distant polluters who are far beyond their purview. With the cross-State air pollution rule, the EPA is doing exactly what we in Congress asked them to do.…”