Patrick Leahy: “As we approach the close of the 105th Congress, it is time to take stock of our accomplishments, and reflect on the work…”

“As we approach the close of the 105th Congress, it is time to take stock of our accomplishments, and reflect on the work that remains. When the environmental record of this Congress is tallied up, there won't be much to show. At best, we have avoided a great roll-back of environmental protections. We can't claim to have broken much new ground. To her credit, Carol Browner and her staff at the Environmental Protection Agency have tried to push ahead in a very difficult political climate. Administrator Browner recently announced that EPA was ordering 22 Eastern states to make sharp cuts in emissions of the pollutants that result in summertime ozone pollution. A significant portion of these pollutants come from coal-fired power plants. The predictable howl from the utility companies and their lobbyists is being heard on Capitol Hill. I applaud Administrator Browner and her staff for their persistence on this important issue. Even though this is a good step, it doesn't go far enough. Stronger, more comprehensive action is needed to finally address the whole gamut of air pollution problems that spew from power plant smoke stacks. Taken collectively, fossil fuel-fired power plants constitute the largest source of air pollution in the United States. It is clear by now that the current Clean Air Act and its regulations are not up to the job of addressing the local, regional and global public health and environmental burdens imposed by the emissions from these plants.”