Upton and Inhofe Introduce Clean Air Act Assault
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Matthew Cain, 202-222-0751, [email protected]; Kelly Trout, 202-222-0722, [email protected]
Bill would eliminate critical controls on climate pollution despite public health dangers and Americans’ support for science-based safeguards
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, joined today with CongressmanEd Whitfield (R-Ky.) and Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.) to officially introduce legislation to eliminate Clean Air Act regulations for climate-damaging pollution from smokestacks and other major sources.
Blocking implementation of Clean Air Act safeguards against pollution could lead to thousands of asthma attacks, respiratory diseases and preventable deaths each year, according to analyses by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Three Democrats, Congressmen Nick Rahall (W.V.), Collin Peterson (Minn.) and Dan Boren (Okla.), were joining as cosponsors on the House bill, according to the Associated Press.
This and other congressional attacks on the Clean Air Act fly in the face of the wishes of Americans, according to recent polling. A poll conducted for the American Lung Association shows likely voters across the political spectrum want the EPA to set and strengthen controls against harmful climate and other air pollution. Public Policy Polling in Chairman Upton’s own district found that his constituents want Congress to let the EPA do its job.
“Chairman Upton and his cohorts are blatantly disregarding the will of the American people in order to protect the profits of corporate polluters,” said Damon Moglen, climate and energy director at Friends of the Earth.
“The Clean Air Act is one of the most cost-effective and life-saving laws on the books and it must be protected. It is inexcusable for politicians to ignore scientific reality and sell out the health of their constituents in order to reward the polluter lobbyists and oil barons funding their campaigns,” added Moglen.
A clearinghouse of information on Chairman Upton’s budding polluter collusion is available at: /news/archives/2011-02-upton-watch
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