Matsui Votes Against Anti-Environmental Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 13, 2011
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Matsui Votes Against Anti-Environmental Bill
Calls Attention to Need for Real Job Creation; H.R. 2250 is Part of Relentless Republican Attack on Environment
Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) voted against the inaccurately named Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulator Relief Act. H.R. 2250 would suspend EPA rules requiring reductions in toxic air emissions including the well-documented mercury pollutant from industrial boilers and incinerators, putting the health and welfare of American families and the environment at risk.
The dangerous bill would allow industrial boilers and incinerators to continue to pollute at current levels levels which are contributing a high proportion of the air-borne toxins existing in the U.S. Mercury has specifically been identified as a leading cause of respiratory illnesses, and is especially dangerous for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
H.R. 2250 is part of a larger Republican effort to undo the Clean Air Act, and in effect undo the core mission of the EPA to protect public health and the environment, said Congresswoman Matsui. This bill is a distraction from what Congress should be focused on: the passing of job creating legislation. The attacks on the EPA are weekly reminders that the House Republicans have yet to introduce a jobs bill and refuse to debate the President's American Jobs Act.
History has proven that implementing Clean Air Act regulations can and does go hand in hand with economic growth. Studies have shown that implementing EPA standards has not been a significant cause for layoffs or financial hardships in related industries.
The existing EPA regulations if upheld would help save Americans from considerable health and financial suffering. Nationally, it is estimated that adhering to the EPA's boiler air pollution standards would yield $10 to $24 in health benefits for every dollar spent to meet those standards. Savings would come from lower health care costs and higher worker productivity, because compliance with EPA rules could result in the prevention of up to 20,000 premature deaths; 126,000 asthma attacks; 12,000 heart attacks; and 960,000 days of missed work due to illness.
In September, Environment California released a report showing Sacramento as the 10th smoggiest metropolitan city in the nation, which only underscores the need to maintain strong clean air standards.
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