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THIS IS A RECIPE FOR A HEALTHIER
ECONOMICALLY STRONGER COUNTRY.
I URGE A "YES" VOTE FOR THE
INHOFE UTILITY MACT AMENDMENT.
I THANK THE PRESIDENT AND YIELD
THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
WOULD YIELD MYSELF ONE MINUTE OF
MY TIME TO PUT INTO THE RECORD A
COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST, AN EDITORIAL WRITTEN BY
THE VERY TYPE OF COMPANIES MY
FRIEND, SENATOR BARRASSO,
MENTIONED WHO SAY THEY'RE JUST
WITH THE E.P.A.'S NEW
REGULATION.
HALF OF THE COAL-FIRED
UTILITIES, THE POWER PLANTS HAVE
ALREADY MADE THESE ADJUSTMENTS.
THEY ARE CLEAN.
AND IF IT IS UP TO SENATOR
BARRASSO, THE OTHER DIRTY PLANTS
WILL JUST KEEP ON SPEWING FORTH
THE MOST DANGEROUS POLLUTION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE OTHER IS A NEW
POLL THAT WAS TAKEN ACTUALLY IN
MARCH OF THIS YEAR WHICH SHOWS
THAT 78% OF LIKELY VOTERS HAVE
ASKED US TO GET OUT OF THE WAY
AND LET THE E.P.A. DO ITS JOB IN
CONTROLLING INDUSTRIAL AND POWER
SECTOR MERCURY AND TOXIC
POLLUTION.
THEY'RE NO FOOLS.
I HEARD A SECOND OPINION.
I GOT A THIRD OPINION.
AND MY THIRD OPINION IS THAT IF
YOU LOOK AT THIS POLL, YOU
UNDERSTAND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
GET IT.
THEY KNOW THE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS,
THEY KNOW THAT THESE
IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE.
THEY KNOW THERE ARE JOBS CREATED
WHEN BEST-AVAILABLE CONTROL
TECHNOLOGY IS PUT IN, AND THEY
ARE OPPOSED TO THIS KIND OF
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD ROLL BACK
THE CLOCK AND CONTINUE OUR
PEOPLE BREATHING IN TOXINS.
I NOW -- I WON'T YIELD BECAUSE
SENATOR CARDIN IS WAITING, AND I
YIELD HIM SIX MINUTES.
THEN I'LL BE DELIGHTED TO YIELD
TIME.
TO YOU AT THAT TIME ON YOUR
THE
SENATOR FROM MARYLAND.
I THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I LET ME THANK SENATOR BOXER FOR
HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
LET ME JUST INVITE MY FRIEND
FROM WYOMING TO COME TO GLENN
BURNIE, MARYLAND, AND SEE THE
BRANDON SHORES POWER PLANT, THE
12,000 MEG GO WATT POWER PLANT
IN -- MEGAWATT POWER PLANT IN
MARYLAND WHICH IS OPERATING --
NOT ONLY OPERATING BUT IS IN
FULL COMPLIANCE WITH MARYLAND'S
HEALTHY AIR LAW THAT IS VERY
SIMILAR TO THE PROPOSED
REGULATIONS THAT WE'RE DEBATING
TODAY.
THAT POWER PLANT PUT IN THE
INVESTMENTS, DIDN'T CLOSE, MADE
THE INVESTMENTS SO WE HAVE A
CLEAN ENERGY SOURCE.
AND IN THE PROCESS, MADAM
PRESIDENT, CREATED 2,000 JOBS IN
MODERNIZING THAT POWER PLANT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MANY
COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT THE
REGULATION, BECAUSE THEY KNOW
IT'S GOING TO MEAN MORE JOBS,
INCLUDING SERIES, AND AMERICAN
BOILER ASSOCIATIONS AND
COMPANIES LIKE W.L. GORE.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK SENATOR
BOXER FOR HER EXTRAORDINARILY
LEADERSHIP ON THESE ISSUES.
I WANT TO THANK SENATOR
ROCKEFELLER FOR HIS
EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT.
I WAS ON THE FLOORED AND
LISTENED TO HIM SPEAKING ON
BEFORE OF THE PEOPLE OF WEST
VIRGINIA.
THEY'RE INTERESTED IN A CLEAN
ECONOMY, GOOD HEALTH, AND JOBS.
I WANT TO THANK SENATOR
ALEXANDER FOR SPEAKING UP FOR
THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE, BECAUSE
HE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF
SENSIBLE AIR-QUALITY STANDARD.
I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE
OF MARYLAND, ON BAIL
BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES THAT I
HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
THIS IS A WEEK THAT SUMMER CAMPS
START AND SOME PARENTS ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WHEN
WE HAVE A DAY THAT IS RATED AS A
CODE ORANGE OR A CODE RED
BECAUSE OF AIR-QUALITY ISSUES
CONCERNING GROUND-LEVEL OZONE AS
TO WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO SEND
THEIR CHILD TO CAMP THAT DAY.
KNOWING FULL WELL IF THAT CHILD
HAS A RESPIRATORY ISSUE OR AN
ASTHMA ISSUE AS TO WHETHER THAT
CHILD SHOULD BE OUTDOORS DURING
THAT DAY WHEN WE HAVE THESE
AIR-QUALITY WARNINGS.
IF THE PARENT DECIDES TO KEEP
THE CHILD AT HOME, THEY'VE LOST
THAT DAY AT CAMP AND THE COST OF
THAT DAY AT CAMP.
THEY'VE LOST A DAY AT WORK
BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS GOING TO
HAVE TO STAY WITH THE CHILD.
IF THEY SEND THE CHILD TO CAMP
AND THE KID HAD THE EPISODE, HE
MAY BE ONE OF THE 12,000
CHILDREN WHO WILL END UP IN OUR
HOSPITALS OR EMERGENCY ROOMS AS
OF DIRTY AIR THAT COULD
BE CLEANED UP BY THE PASSAGE OF
THESE REGULATIONS, THE ENACT OF
THESE REGULATIONS.
I KNOW THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKERS
COMMITTEE WILL TELL US AS TO HOW
MANY PREMATURE DEATHS, HOW MANY
BRONCHITIS -- THESE ARE TOXICS
THAT ARE GOING INTO THEIR AIR
THAT CAUSE CANCER AND
NEUROLOGICAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, AND
REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS, PRIMARILY
FOR CHILDREN -- FOR CHILDREN.
IT'S PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR
THEM.
AND THE SOURCE -- POWER PLANTS
THAT HAVE NOT PUT IN THE
INVESTMENT FOR CLEAN AIR.
THIS IS DOABLE.
IT'S BEEN DONE IN MARYLAND AND
IN MANY POWER PLANTS AROUND THE
NATION.
IN FACT, MY STATE, CONCERNED
ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, CONCERNED
ABOUT OUR HEALTH, PASSED THE
MARYLAND HEALTHY AIR ACT, AND
THE MERCURY STANDARDS IN THAT
LEGISLATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO
WHAT THESE REGULATIONS WOULD
REQUIRE.
REDUCED ITS MERCURY
AND ITS SOx AND NOx
EMISSIONS AND WE SAW A REDUCTION
FROM THE 2002 LEVEL, 80% IN
SULFUR DIOXIDE AND 70% IN NOx.
IT HELPED OUR ECONOMY.
BUT HERE'S THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE
IN MARYLAND.
YES, THIS IS IMPORTANT.
MARYLAND'S EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT
AN AGGRESSIVE TIME LINE IS NOT
DESIRABLE.
ONLY ACHIEVABLE, BUT IT'S ALSO
POWER PLANTS ARE CAPABLE OF
MEETING AGGRESSIVE TIME LINES
AND THE BENEFITS ARE ON
PARALLEL.
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PROTECTS
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAVES --
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ASSOCIATED
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
WITH MEDICAL COSTS.
AGENCY IS REQUIRED TO DO A STUDY
COST-BENEFIT.
HOW MUCH COST FOR HOW MUCH
BENEFIT?
EVERY DOLLAR OF COMPLIANCE COST,
WE SAVE $3 TO $9 AS FAR AS
SAVING COSTS FOR OUR ECONOMY.
THAT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT.
WE LIKE THOSE TYPES OF
INVESTMENTS.
THE MARYLAND EXPERIENCE ALSO
SHOWS THAT WE NEED A NATIONAL
AIR POLLUTION.
STANDARD TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS
MARYLAND HAS DONE WHAT'S RIGHT,
BUT OUR CHILDREN ARE STILL AT
RISK.
WHY?
BECAUSE AIR POLLUTION KNOWS NO
STATE *** INDUSTRY.
WE'RE DOWNWIND.
WE'VE DONE WHAT'S RIGHT.
BUT OUR CHILDREN ARE STILL AT
RISK.
STANDARD.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED THESE
WE SHOWED THAT YOU CAN DO IN A
COST-EFFECTIVE WAY CREATING JOBS
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
YOU CAN HAVE A CLEAN
ENVIRONMENT, YOU CAN HAVE A
GROWING ECONOMY.
IN FACT, YOU CAN'T DO IT
WITHOUT.
THAT'S WHAT THESE REGULATIONS
ARE ABOUT.
AS SENATOR ALEXANDER SAID, WE'VE
BEEN WAITING 20 YEARS FOR THESE
REGULATIONS.
WE'VE BEEN WAITING -- 1990
ACT.
CONGRESS PASSED THE CLEAN AIR
IN 200, OUR COURTS SAID YOU
CAN'T -- IN 2008, OUR COURTS
LONGER.
SAID YOU CAN'T DELAY IT ANY
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO
RIGHT.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REJECT
THIS RESOLUTION THAT WOULD DENY
US THE OPPORTUNITY OF PROTECTING
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
HEARD THE SENATOR FROM
CALIFORNIA TALK ABOUT 78% OF THE
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WANT TO
REDUCE MERCURY.
I AM PART OF THAT 78%.
THE PROBLEM IS THIS BILL DOESN'T
ADDRESS THAT.
BY THEIR OWN NUMBERS, THE E.P.A.
SAYS THE COST IS AROUND $10
BILLION.
OF THE THAT, LESS THAN $6
MERCURY.
MILLION WOULD BE ADDRESSING
THE REST OF THAT IS IN
PARTICULATE MATTER, SOMETHING
THAT IS ALREADY REGULATED UNDER
THE CLEAN AIR ACT.
I RECOGNIZE THE JUNIOR SENATOR
FROM WEST VIRGINIA FOR SIX
MINUTES.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
--
MATSCH I RISE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR
I RISE TO SPEAK
IN FAVOR OF THE DISAPPROVAL
RESOLUTION TO STOP THE E.P.A.
FROM IMPLEMENTING ONE OF THE
MEMORY.
RULES IN RECENT
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE, SENATOR
INHOFE, FOR INTRODUCING THIS
IMPORTANT RESOLUTION TO SEND A
MESSAGE TO THE E.P.A.
I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS
ABOUT THE LITTLE STATE OF WEST
VIRGINIA WHO DOES THE HEAVY
LIFTING THAT HELPS THIS ENTIRE
NATION.
WE MINE THE COAL, WE MAKE THE
STEEL.
WE HAVE DONE JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT
PROBABLY SERVE PERCENTAGE-WISE
IN THE MILITARY THAN ANY OTHER
STATE.
WE'VE GIVEN OUR ALL FOR THIS
GREAT STATE.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THE
HEAVY LIFTING.
BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE
SURE THAT THE E.P.A., MAKE SURE
THIS GOVERNMENT IS WORKING WITH
US AND NOT AGAINST US.
THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IS TO BE A
PARTNER, NOT AN ADVERSARY, BUT
AN ALLY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING
FOR.
WE'RE ASKING FOR IT TO WORK WITH
THE BUSINESSES AND NOT AGAINST
THEM.
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO UNDERSTAND
OUR ACTIONS.
THEIR ACTIONS WILL PUT THOUSANDS
OF HARDWORKING AMERICANS OUT OF
A JOB IN THE WORST ECONOMY IN
GENERATIONS.
DON'T RAISE ELECTRICITY RATES ON
CONSUMERS WHO CAN BARELY AFFORD
MONTHLY BILLS TODAY.
MOSTLY SENIORS AND PEOPLE
STRUGGLING WITH THEIR FAMILIES
TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING.
THE ECONOMIC REALITIES IS THAT
THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY HAVE
TO WORK HAND BY HAND.
IT HAS TO BE IN BALANCE.
FROM THE DAY I ARRIVED IN THE
SENATE, I'VE BEEN DETERMINED TO
STOP THE E.P.A.'S JOB-KILLING
AGENDA, AND THIS RESOLUTION OF
DISAPPROVAL TAKES AN IMPORTANT
OUT-OF-CONTROL AGENCY.
STEP TO REIN IN THIS
LET ME EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU.
WHERE I COME FROM IN THE STATE
OF WEST VIRGINIA, LIKE MOST
STATES, WE DO OUR RULES AND
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
REGULATIONS THROUGH A
PEOPLE HAVE TO VOTE.
WE DON'T GIVE BUREAUCRATIC
AGENCIES THE RIGHT TO SET
POLICY.
THE PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN US THAT
RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT RIGHT
FOR US AS ELECTED LEADERS TO SET
THE POLICY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING
HERE.
WE HAVE THIS AGENCY STEPPING WAY
BEYOND ITS BOUNDARIES, FARTHER
THAN OUR FOUNDING FATHERS EVER
INTENDED THAT'S PUTTING AN
ABSOLUTE BURDEN ON THE BACKS OF
EVERY AMERICAN.
ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF OTHER
RULES ON THE VERGE OF BEING
IMPLEMENTED ARE ALREADY IN
PLACE, THE UTILITY MACT RULE
ECONOMY UP
TO $275 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 25
YEARS.
ACCORDING TO ELECTRIC POWER
RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND THE
UTILITY MACT WOULD COST 1.3
MILLION JOBS OVER THE NEXT TWO
DECADES, ACCORDING TO THE
ASSOCIATION.
NATIONAL ECONOMIC RESEARCH
ON THE ISSUE OF UTILITY MACT, I
HAVE HEARD FROM THOUSANDS OF
WEST VIRGINIANS IN THE PAST
SEVERAL WEEKS.
IN FACT, JUST YESTERDAY I HAD
45, 45 OF MY CONSTITUENTS FROM
WEST VIRGINIA GET ON A BUS, 756
MILES, DRIVE ALL DAY TO GET HERE
TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO SOME OF
US AND DRIVE LAST NIGHT TO GO
BACK HOME.
THAT'S HOW COMMITTED AND
DEDICATED MOST OF THEM HAD
EITHER WORKED IN THE MINES, WAS
WORKING IN SOME ASPECT OF
MINING.
PEOPLE THINK JUST MINING IS JUST
COAL MINING AND COAL MINING
ONLY.
IT'S NOT.
THE ENERGY BUSINESS IS BASICALLY
IF YOU WORK IN A BATTERY
FACTORY, IF YOU WORK IN A
MACHINE SHOP, IF YOU WORK IN ANY
ANCILLARY JOBS, THE
RIPPLE EFFECT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO
OUR ECONOMY.
IF YOU WORK IN A POWER PLANT,
THESE PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO DEATH
BECAUSE ALL THEY HEAR EVERY DAY
IS THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR
JOBS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS
GOING TO SHUT THEM DOWN AND WORK
AGAINST THEM.
ABOUT THREE-FOURTHS OF THE
MINERSED IN ROOM HAD ALREADY
BEEN LAID OFF, BECAUSE THEY'RE
FIGHTING FOR THEIR JOBS, THEY
BROUGHT THEIR FAMILY AND
CHILDREN WITH THEM.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COULD
PUT THE FACES AND REAL PEOPLE
WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE
RULES WE PASS HERE.
MR. PRESIDENT, OUR COAL MINERS
ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH --
MADAM PRESIDENT.
THEY WORK SO HARD TO PROVIDE
ENERGY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND TO
PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY DON'T WANT A HANDOUT.
ALL THEY WANT IS A WORK PERMIT.
THAT'S ALL THEY'VE ASKED FOR.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PULL THE
RUG OUT FROM UNDER THEM AND MAKE
THEM WORRY ABOUT HOW THEY'RE
GOING TO PAY THEIR BILLS OR FOOD
FOR THEIR FAMILY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE THIS
COUNTRY NEEDS TO STRIKE A
BALANCE AND I'VE SAID THAT
BEFORE.
OUR LIVES ARE ABOUT BALANCE.
EVERY DAY YOU GET UP IN THE
IN YOUR LIFE.
MORNING, YOU LOOK FOR A BALANCE
YOU LOOK FOR A BALANCE IN HOW
GOVERNMENT OR HOW YOU RUN YOUR
BUSINESS OR HOW YOU CAN MAKE A
LIVING.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FIND
HERE IN THIS BODY TODAY.
FAR.
THE E.P.A. HAS TRULY GONE TOO
WE'VE HEARD SO MANY DIFFERENT
TESTIMONIES ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT IS WHY I'LL BE CASTING
MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS
RESOLUTION BY SENATOR INHOFE TO
DISAPPROVE OF THE NEW RULES.
AND I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
TO DO THE SAME.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I TRULY BELIEVE
THAT ENERGY IS AN ISSUE WHERE WE
CAN BRING THOUGHTFUL MEMBERS
TOGETHER ON BOTH PARTIES TO WORK
OUT SOLUTIONS.
LET ME POINT TO AN IMPORTANT
EXAMPLE.
IN THE TIME I HAVE SERVED, I
HAVE LEARNED THAT MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES KNOW OF WEST VIRGINIA
ONLY AS A COAL STATE.
THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WE DO AND
HOW WE DO IT.
SO THIS PAST WEEKEND I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD
NOT ONLY DO WE DO COAL, WE DO
WIND, WE DO HYDRO, WE DO NATURAL
GAS WITH THE MARCH SELL HAS
SHALE, TREMENDOUS FIND, BIOMASS.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.
AND WE THINK EVERY STATE SHOULD
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND
RESPONSIBLE TO TRY TO BE
ENVELOPE INDEPENDENT AND DO
IT -- TO TRY TO BE ENERGY
INDEPENDENT.
I INVITED LEADERS OF THE ENERGY
COMMITTEE, SENATORS WYDEN AND
MURKOWSKI, A DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN, TO SPEND A WEEKEND
WITH ME TO TOUR OUR STATE AND TO
SEE HOW WEST VIRGINIA'S ALL-IN
POLICY FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
WORKS.
ONE OF THEM WILL LIKELY BE THE
NEXT CHAIR OF THE ENERGY AND
NATURAL RESOURCES, BUT I CAN
ASSURE YOU THAT BOTH OF THEM
WILL WORK AS A TEAM TRYING TO
FIND A POLICY THAT WORKS FOR
THIS COUNTRY.
YOU'LL HEAR BOTH OF THEM SAY ONE
SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL.
WE NEED EVERYTHING, AND WE HAVE
TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THIS.
A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLAN FOR
THIS COUNTRY.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO OUR RECENT
VISIT TO WEST VIRGINIA.
THEY SAW HOW WE ARE AOUG THE ALL
OF THE -- USING THE ALL OF THE
ABOVE APPROACH.
IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE
THEY SAW A WIND FARM.
THEY SAW A 1,600 MEGAWATT
COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT WITH THE
MOST MODERN OF TECHNOLOGY THAT
CLEANS UP THE AIR 95%.
THEY SAW IT ALL.
AND WHEN THE WIND ISN'T BLOWING,
BASICALLY THEY SAW THERE WAS NO
PORE POWER GENERATING ESPECIALLY
IN THE HOT SUMMER OR COLD
WINTER.
BASICALLY ALL WE'RE SAYING IS
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE
POSSIBLY CAN.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
IN SHORT, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE
SAW A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING
THAT CAN BE DONE IF YOU WORK
TOGETHER.
I WANT TO THANK, AND I THINK IT
SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN EFFORT
THAT WE FIND A SOLUTION.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO KAOEPL --
KEEP FIGHTING EACH OTHER AND
AGENCIES CAN'T KEEP CONTROLLING
WHAT WE'RE NOT LEGISLATING.
IF IT HASN'T BEEN LEGISLATED IT
SHOULDN'T BE PUT INTO LAW UNTIL
WE'RE ABLE TO EVALUATE IT.
I APPRECIATE US TALKING TODAY.
WE HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES BUT WE
CAN COME TOGETHER.
I WANT TO THANK YOU.
FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT, AND I YIELD THE
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
THINK THAT WHEN THE SENATOR
TALKS ABOUT BALANCE, HE OUGHT TO
COAL-FIRED UTILITIES HAVE
RECOGNIZE THAT ONE HALF OF THE
ALREADY MADE THESE ADJUSTMENTS,
AND THEY HAVE REPORTED TO US
WITH VERY LITTLE IMPACT ON
ELECTRICITY RATES.
I WOULD YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO
SENATOR SANDERS.
I THANK THE CHAIR
VERY MUCH.
THE
SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
BEFORE I BEGIN,
MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE FIVE
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS FOR
COMMITTEES TO MEET DURING
TODAY'S SESSION OF THE SENATE.
THEY HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE
MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THESE REQUESTS BE AGREED TO AND
RECORD.
THESE REQUESTS BE PRINTED IN THE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
LET ME BEGIN BY
SAYING, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
SUSPECT THAT I HAVE THE
STRONGEST LIFETIME PROWORKER
STATES SENATE.
VOTING RECORD HERE IN THE UNITED
I WANT TO CREATE JOBS, NOT CUT
JOBS.
AND WHAT SENATOR BOXER AND
SENATOR CARDIN AND OTHERS ARE
TALKING ABOUT IS CREATING
MEANINGFUL, GOOD-PAYING JOBS AS
WE RETROFIT COAL-BURNING PLANTS
SO THEY DO NOT POISON THE
CHILDREN OF VERMONT AND OTHER
STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
SO TO SENATOR INHOFE AND OTHERS,
I SAY RESPECTFULLY, STOP
POISONING OUR CHILDREN.
LET THEM GROW UP IN A HEALTHY
WAY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE CLEAN AIR
SET TO CUT MERCURY
POLLUTION BY 90%, USING
TECHNOLOGY THAT IS AVAILABLE
RIGHT NOW.
THAT WOULD BE GOOD NEWS SINCE
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
AND PREVENTION SAY MERCURY CAN
CAUSE CHILDREN TO HAVE -- AND I
QUOTE -- "BRAIN DAMAGE, MENTAL
RETARDATION, BLINDNESS, SEIZURES
AND THE INABILITY TO SPEAK."
END OF QUOTE.
WE GET EXPOSED TO MERCURY SIMPLY
BY EATING FISH CONTAMINATED WITH
IT.
AND WE HAVE SEEN FISH ADVISORIES
IN 48 OUT OF THE 50 STATES IN
THIS COUNTRY.
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF THE MEN
AND WOMEN AND THE KIDS WHO GO
FISHING COULD ACTUALLY EAT THE
FISH THEY CATCH RATHER THAN
WORRY ABOUT BEING MADE SICK BY
THOSE FISH?
POWER PLANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ONE-THIRD OF THE MERCURY
DEPOSITS IN THE UNITED STATES,
BUT SENATOR INHOFE'S RESOLUTION
WOULD LET THEM KEEP RIGHT ON
POLLUTING.
HIS RESOLUTION WOULD ALSO
ELIMINATE PROTECTIONS AGAINST
CANCER-CAUSING POLLUTANTS LIKE
ARSENIC AS WELL AS TOXIC SUIT
THAT CAUSES ASTHMA ATTACKS.
LEADING MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS,
INCLUDING THE AMERICAN ACADEMY
OF PEDIATRICS, THE AMERICAN LUNG
ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN HEART
ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN NURSES
ASSOCIATION, HAVE SAID -- AND I
QUOTE -- "SENATOR INHOFE'S
RESOLUTION WOULD LEAVE MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS PERMANENTLY AT RISK
FROM TOXIC AIR POLLUTION, FROM
POWER PLANTS THAT DIRECTLY
THREATEN PULMONARY,
CARDIOVASCULAR AND NEUROLOGICAL
HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT."
END OF QUOTE.
THAT'S NOT BERNIE SANDERS.
THAT'S THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRICS, THE AMERICAN LUNG
THE AMERICAN HEART
ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN NURSES
ASSOCIATION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT PREVENTING THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF PREMATURE DEATHS.
HEART ATTACKS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PREVENTING
AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS
A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN MY
STATE, AND THAT IS ASTHMA.
MAYBE SENATOR INHOFE WOULD LIKE
TO JOIN ME IN THE STATE OF
VERMONT.
I GO TO A LOT OF SCHOOLS, AND I
ASK THE KIDS VERY OFTEN, I ASK
THE SCHOOL NURSES HOW MANY KIDS
ARE SUFFERING WITH ASTHMA, AND
MANY, MANY HANDS GO UP.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE DO
NOT WANT TO SEE MORE ASTHMA IN
VERMONT OR IN OTHER STATES THAT
ARE DOWNWIND.
YOU KNOW, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE
HEAR A LOT FROM SOME OF OUR
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS ABOUT JOBS.
WELL, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER
IS, IS THAT IF WE ARE AGGRESSIVE
IF CLEANING UP THESE COAL POWER
PLANTS, WE CAN CREATE AND WE
HAVE ALREADY SEEN CREATED MANY,
MANY GOOD, DECENT-PAYING JOBS.
IN FACT, IF WE INVEST -- IF THE
UTILITY INDUSTRIES WILL INVEST
IN POLLUTION CONTROLS, WE CAN
CREATE ALMOST 300,000 JOBS A
YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
MEANINGFUL, GOOD-PAYING JOBS
MAKING SURE THAT OUR AIR IS
CLEANER AND THAT OUR PEOPLE DO
NOT GET SICK.
CREATION.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT JOB
JOB CREATION, CLEANING UP OUR
ENVIRONMENT.
AND, MADAM CHAIR, THIS IS NOT
JUST THEORY.
I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CREATE
JOBS SUBCOMMITTEE, AND WE HEARD
FROM CONSTELLATION ENERGY WHICH
INSTALLED POLLUTION CONTROLS AT
THEIR 1,280 MEGAWATT COAL PLANT
IN MARYLAND THAT CUT MERCURY
EMISSIONS BY 90%.
THIS $885 MILLION INVESTMENT
CREATED AT ITS PEAK 1,385 JOBS
ON SITE, AT THE PLANT, FOR
STEAM TPEURTS,
PIPEFITTERS, OPERATING
ENGINEERS, IRONWORKERS,
ELECTRICIANS, TEAMSTERS AND
LABORERS, SKWRUFRT THE KIND
OF -- JUST THE KIND OF JOBS WE
WANT TO CREATE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW WE HAVE
TO REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE CAN CREATE JOBS DOING THAT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE
WE CAN CREATE DECENT-PAYING JOBS
AND HELP KEEP OUR KIDS FROM
GETTING SICK.
THE
SENATOR'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I WOULD URGE VERY STRONGLY A
"NO" VOTE AGAINST THE INHOFE
RESOLUTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I YIELD FIVE
MINUTES TO SENATOR RISCH.
SENATOR RISCH: MADAM PRESIDENT,
I COME TO THE FLOOR THIS MORNING
TO URGE AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE FOR
SENATOR INHOFE'S RESOLUTION.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT
TO MY FRIEND FROM VERMONT, THIS
IS NOT A JOB-CREATING BILL.
VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY WHO HAS
LOOKED AT THAT HAS SAID THIS
WILL KILL JOBS.
THIS WILL MOVE JOBS OVERSEAS.
EVERYONE WHO'S LOOKED AT THIS
HAS SAID THAT IT WILL INCREASE
THE COST OF ENERGY FOR THE
AMERICAN TAXPAYER.
SO IT DOES TWO THINGS.
IT KILLS JOBS AND IT INCREASES
THE COST OF ENERGY.
WHY WOULD ANYONE VOTE FOR THIS?
THIS IS ABSOLUTE FOOLISHNESS.
ABOUT JOBS.
TODAY AMERICANS ARE CONCERNED
THEY ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
JOBS.
ABOUT JOBS.
EVERYWHERE I GO PEOPLE ASK ME
THEY ASK ME ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
AND TODAY WE AS SENATORS HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT.
THIS RESOLUTION CLEARLY, ITS
FAILURE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE RULE THAT THE E.P.A. HAS
PUT IN FRONT OF US IS GOING TO
KILL JOBS AND IT'S GOING TO
AMERICA.
INCREASE THE COST OF ENERGY IN
TO DO PRECISELY WHAT
SO MANY SENATORS COME TO THE
FLOOR AND WHINE ABOUT, AND THAT
IS RUN JOBS OVERSEAS.
IF YOU'RE A JOB CREATOR, IF
YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO IS THINKING
OF INVESTING, IF YOU'RE SOMEONE
WHO WANTS TO MOVE THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY FORWARD, YOU LOOK AT
EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF IT, AND
WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE
THIS, IT ISN'T JUST THIS, IT'S
THIS IN A PARADE OF NEVER-ENDING
RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT KILL
JOBS AND INCREASE THE COSTS FOR
THE JOB CREATORS.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT CLEARLY
URGE JOB CREATORS TO CREATE THE
AMERICA.
JOBS IN A PLACE OTHER THAN
THAT'S JUST FLAT WRONG.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE TO
TALK ABOUT TODAY PRIMARILY.
WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT
ABOUT THIS.
TODAY IS THE WAY WE'RE GOING
YOU KNOW, THE FOUNDING FATHERS
DID A REALLY GOOD JOB WHEN THEY
SET UP OUR GOVERNMENT.
INDEED, OUT OF THE THOUSANDS OF
GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
CREATED OVER THE YEARS, ALL OF
WHICH HAVE FAILED -- MOST OF
HAVE FAILED, ONLY ONE HAS
HAD THE SUCCESS THAT OUR
FOUNDING FATHERS HAVE HAD.
THEY CREATED A GOVERNMENT OUT OF
FEAR OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY DIDN'T CREATE A GOVERNMENT
THAT SAYS HOW CAN WE DO THIS,
HOW CAN WE DO THAT.
THEY WERE INTERESTED IN KEEPING
GOVERNMENT AWAY FROM THEM,
KEEPING GOVERNMENT AWAY FROM
THEIR JOBS, FROM THEIR
BUSINESSES, FROM THEIR
INVESTING.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND
IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 200 YEARS.
FOR ABOUT 200 YEARS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT LEFT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ALONE.
ALONE.
THEY LEFT THE JOB CREATORS
TODAY, OVER THE LAST THREE AND A
HALF DECADES OR SO, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS STUCK ITS NOSE
INTO EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF OUR
LIVES, AND HERE WE GO AGAIN.
WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT USING ITS POWER,
USING ITS REGULATORY PROCESS TO
GET ITS NOSE INTO PLACES WHERE
IT SHOULDN'T BE.
THIS IS THE JOB OF CONGRESS.
IT IS NOT THE JOB OF THE
BUREAUCRACY OF PASSING THESE
KIND OF LAWS.
THIS ISN'T A RULE OR A
REGULATION, AS THE FOUNDING
FATHERS ANTICIPATED THESE SORTS
OF THINGS.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS SET THIS UP
WITH THREE BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT WITH EACH
OTHER SO THAT THEY WOULD LEAVE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ALONE, AND
THEY SAID THE JOB OF CREATING
LAWS, THE JOB OF CREATING
REGULATIONS, THE JOB OF CREATING
RULES WAS THE JOB OF THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS.
NOW, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE,
WE HAVE LOST OUR WAY.
LAST YEAR, THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS PASSED ABOUT 2,000
PAGES OF LEGISLATION, AND THAT
INCLUDED THE SPENDING BILLS.
LAST YEAR, THE BUREAUCRACY
PASSED ABOUT 70,000 PAGES OF
RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT HAVE
THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS
LAW.
THE CONGRESS HAS LOST THE
ABILITY TO PASS THE RULE -- THE
LAWS THAT GOVERN CONDUCT IN THE
UNITED STATES.
NOW, PEOPLE WILL ARGUE YES, BUT
CONGRESS WON'T DO IT, CONGRESS
WON'T ACT.
THAT'S PRECISELY THE POINT.
WE WERE ELECTED BY THE AMERICAN
APPROPRIATE.
PEOPLE TO ACT OR NOT ACT AS IS
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE, WHEN WE
DON'T DO SOMETHING, IT IS JUST
AS IMPORTANT AS WHEN WE DO
SOMETHING.
INDEED, I WOULD ARGUE MANY TIMES
MORE IMPORTANT.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT IT'S COME TO
TODAY.
2,000 PAGES VERSUS 70,000 PAGES.
IN IDAHO, WE HAD THE SAME
PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
IN IDAHO, IT WAS THE SAME WAY.
THE BUREAUCRACY COULD PASS THE
RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT HAD
THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF LAW.
THE
SENATOR'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU.
BUT WE HAVE CHANGED THAT.
CONGRESS HAS GOT TO TAKE BACK
ITS ABILITY TO HANDLE THE LAW AS
IT'S IMPOSED AND THE BURDEN IT'S
IMPOSED ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
I WANT TO YIELD FOUR
MINUTES TO THE SENATOR FROM
DELAWARE WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A
GREAT LEADER ON THIS, SENATOR
CARPER.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TERRIFIC
LEADERSHIP AS WELL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY TO MY FRIEND
FROM IDAHO, THE CONGRESS DID
ACT.
HARRY TRUMAN USED TO SAY THE
ONLY THING THAT'S NEW IN THE
WORLD IS THE HISTORY WE NEVER
LEARNED OR FORGOT.
CONGRESS DID ACT, WITH A
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, A GUY
NAMED GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH
WHO KIND LEGISLATION, CLEAN AIR
ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1990, PASSED
OVERWHELMINGLY IN THE HOUSE AND
SENATE AND SUPPORTED AS I RECALL
BY THOSE OF US HERE THAT ARE ON
THE FLOOR TODAY.
A LITTLE HISTORY HERE.
THE 1990 CLEAN AIR ACT SAYS
LOOK, THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH
TOXIC AIR EMISSIONS.
WE'RE NOT SURE REALLY WHERE THEY
ARE COMING FROM, BUT LET'S SPEND
A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND HAVE
E.P.A. FIGURE IT OUT.
THEY SPENT ABOUT TEN YEARS
TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
IN THE YEAR 2000, THE LAST YEAR
OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION,
THE CONCLUSION WAS REACHED THAT
A LOT OF THE EMISSIONS OF THESE
TOXIC TO AIR EMISSIONS, MERCURY
HEAVY METALS,
ACID, GASES, A LOT OF IT COMES
FROM UTILITIES, A LOT OF IT
COMES FROM UTILITIES.
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION,
BRAND-NEW IN 2001 SAID LET'S GO
TO WORK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO
DO ABOUT IT.
FIVE YEARS LATER, IN 2005, THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION SAID HERE IS
A RULE TO DEAL WITH, NOT WITH
THE 70 TOXIC EMISSIONS BUT WITH
JUST ONE.
ONE -- MERCURY.
AND IMMEDIATELY LAWSUITS WERE
FILED.
AND OF COURSE THE FEDERAL COURT
SAID IN 2008 WHAT ABOUT THE
OTHER 70?
YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE
MERCURY.
OTHER 70.
AND WHAT YOU DID WITH MERCURY
WAS A CAP AND TRADE SYSTEM WHICH
DOESN'T REALLY WORK FOR MERCURY.
SO THE COURTS REMANDED IT BACK
TO E.P.A. AND SAID LET'S TRY
THAT AGAIN.
SENATOR ALEXANDER WHO HAS BEEN
WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AND I HAVE
WORKED LITERALLY FOR YEARS TO
TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
CONGRESS PROVIDED SOME
LEADERSHIP, THAT WE DO SEE
EMISSIONS OF THESE TOXIC AIR
EMISSIONS AND SULFUR OXIDE AND
THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN
APPLICATION WITH MANY OF OUR
LEGISLATION.
UTILITIES TO NOT SUPPORT
WE FINALLY GAVE IT A REAL TRY, A
GREAT TRY IN 2010.
MY FRIEND, SENATOR INHOFE, WAS
PART OF THE EFFORT TO TRY TO GET
LEGISLATION ENACTED.
FINALLY I THINK THE UTILITIES
SAID WE WOULD RATHER TAKE OUR
CHANCES ON AN ELECTION IN 2010
AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THE ELECTION
YIELDS AND MAYBE HAVE TO DEAL
WITH THE E.P.A.
WELL, WE HAD AN ELECTION, AND
NOW THE COURTS SAY E.P.A., YOU
HAVE TO RULE ON THIS, YOU HAVE
TO PROVIDE SOME LEADERSHIP OR
THE CONGRESS WON'T.
THE E.P.A. HAS DONE THAT.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE JAMMING IT
DOWN ANYBODY'S THROAT.
I SAY TOMORROW I OFFER
LEGISLATION THAT BY 2015 IT'S
GOT TO BE A 90% REDUCTION IN
MERCURY, BY 2015.
WHAT E.P.A. HAS SAID IS BY 2015,
THERE HAS TO BE A 90% REDUCTION.
PLUS TO ADDRESS ANOTHER BUNCH OF
TOXIC EMISSIONS.
BUT E.P.A. SAID STATES CAN
AUTOMATICALLY GIVE AN AUTOMATIC
ONE-YEAR EXTENSION.
IF UTILITIES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH
GETTING THIS DONE BY 2016, THEY
FOR ANOTHER TWO-YEAR
EXTENSION.
THIS STARTED IN 1990.
IT'S 2012.
IF YOU PLAY OUT THE STRING, IT
COULD BE AS LATE AS 2018 TO
COMPLY.
IN THE MEANTIME, DELAWARE,
MARYLAND, NEW JERSEY, A BUNCH OF
US ON THE EAST COAT, WE ARE
DOWNWIND OF THE STATES THAT PUT
UP THIS POLLUTION IN THE AIR, WE
HAVE TO BREATHE IT, WE HAVE TO
BREATHE IT.
LOOK, THE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS TO
FIX THIS PROBLEM.
50% OF THE STATES, 50% OF THE
UTILITIES HAVE ALREADY APPLIED
THE TECHNOLOGY.
IT WORKS.
IT'S BROADLY DEPLOYED.
UTILITIES, MOST OF THEM, HAVE
THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS.
IF THEY DON'T, THEY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO RAISE CAPITAL.
AND THE WORKERS, THERE ARE TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS WHO
WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS WORK.
AND THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN A CLEANER ECONOMY
AND A -- A STRONGER ECONOMY AND
A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT, THAT'S A
FALSE CHOICE.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A FALSE CHOICE,
AND IT'S A FALSE CHOICE HERE
TODAY.
I WANT TO COMMEND, ESPECIALLY
BEFORE I STEP DOWN, I'M A NATIVE
OF WEST VIRGINIA.
MY DAD FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL
WAS A COAL MINER.
I STILL HAVE RELATIVES BACK IN
WEST VIRGINIA.
I CARE A LOT ABOUT THE STATE AND
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO
SOMETHING, WHATEVER IS FAIR TO
THEM AT THE END.
I WANT TO SAY TO JAY ROCKEFELLER
THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR
WEST VIRGINIA AND BEING A HERO
HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
WOULD LIKE TO YIELD FIVE MINUTES
TO THE SENATOR FROM MISSOURI,
SENATOR BLUNT.
THE
SENATOR FROM MISSOURI.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR THE
TIME.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
RESOLUTION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE
TO USE THE CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW
ACT SPHEFLLY ONE TIME, AND --
SUCCESSFULLY ONE TIME AND I
THINK AT SOME POINT THAT MEANS
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE
CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT BECAUSE
THESE REGULATIONS OFTEN DON'T
MEET THE COMMONSENSE STANDARD,
AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.
NOW, IT APPEARS TO MEET THE
STANDARDS THAT THE PRESIDENT
MEET.
WANT HIS REGULATORS TO
IN FACT, IN JANUARY OF 2008, THE
PRESIDENT WHILE RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT SAID COAL-FIRED PLANTS
WOULD GO BANKRUPT AND
ELECTRICITY RATES HE SAID LATER
IN THE CAMPAIGN WOULD
NECESSARILY SKYROCKET UNDER HIS
PLAN TO TAX GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS AND THROUGH WHAT WAS
THEN THE CAP-AND-TRADE SYSTEM.
THE HOUSE PASSED THAT SYSTEM IN
2009.
MISSOURI UTILITIES ALL WENT
TOGETHER.
THE RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES,
THE FOR-PROFIT UTILITIES AND
MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.
THEY PAID FOR A STUDY IN OUR
STATE, WHICH IS IN THE TOP SIX
STATES OF DEPENDENCE ON COAL.
THAT STUDY INDICATED THAT THE
AVERAGE UTILITY BILL WOULD GO UP
82% IN THE FIRST TEN YEARS AND
DOUBLE SHORTLY AFTER THAT.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A
TO GET YOUR UTILITY BILL
OUT AND MULTIPLY IT BY TWO.
IF THAT'S YOUR UTILITY BILL AT
HOME, IT MAY BE A UTILITY BILL
YOU CAN'T PAY.
IF IT'S A UTILITY BILL AT WORK,
IT MAY MEAN THAT YOUR JOB IS NO
LONGER THERE BECAUSE THE UTILITY
BILL WENT UP.
BUT THAT HOUSE-PASSED BILL WOULD
HAVE HAD THAT RESULT IN OUR
STATE AND FIVE STATES ARE MORE
DEPENDENT ON COAL THAN WE ARE
FOR IEW TILTS.
THAT THE SENATE THEN REJECTED
THE CAP-AND-TRADE BILL.
AND THANK GOODNESS THEY DID.
BUT WHEN THEY DID, THE PRESIDENT
SAID THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS
TO SKIN THE CAT, HIS QUOTE, AND
HE SAID OTHER WAYS BESIDES JUST
AN ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY
POLICY.
HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BY PASSED
THE CONGRESS, BYPASSED THE WILL
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND THEY
ARE CLEARLY TRYING TO DO BY
REGULATION WHAT I BELIEVE THE
CONGRESS WOULD NOW NEVER DO.
ONCE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FIGURED
OUT THAT CAP AND TRADE AND
POLICIES LIKE THAT WOULD HAVE
THIS DEVASTATING IMPACT ON THEIR
UTILITY BILL, ABOUT 50% OF ALL
THE UTILITIES FROM THE MIDDLE OF
PENNSYLVANIA TO THE WESTERN EDGE
OF WYOMING ARE COAL-GENERATED
UTILITIES, ONCE PEOPLE HAVE
FIGURED THAT OUT AND THE IMPACT
IT HAD ON THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE
A JOB AND THEIR ABILITY TO DO
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AT THEIR
HOUSE, THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO
DO IT.
THE E.P.A. WITH THIS RULE HAS
FINALIZED A REGULATION THAT
WOULD REQUIRE POWER COMPANIES TO
REDUCE EMISSIONS IN A PERIOD
SHORT.
THAT'S JUST UNREALISTICALLY
A THREE-YEAR TIME FRAME MEANS
THAT IN MANY FACILITIES,
POWER-GENERATING FACILITIES, YOU
DON'T REDUCE EMISSIONS, YOU
CLOSE THE PLANT.
WHAT THIS REALLY STANDS FOR IS
AN ASSAULT ON COAL AND
COAL-BASED UTILITIES.
THE DIRECTOR OF E.P.A., LISA
JACKSON, SAID, THE ADMINISTRATOR
SAID THAT RECENTLY CURRENT
CHALLENGES TO THE COAL INDUSTRY
ARE ENTIRELY ECONOMIC.
ECONOMIC.
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID, ENTIRELY
I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE WHO IS
PAYING ATTENTION TO THE E.P.A.
TO REGULATIONS OR TO THE PRICE
OF COAL COULD SAY THAT THE
PROBLEMS ARE ENTIRELY ECONOMIC.
THEY'RE NOT ECONOMIC AT ALL.
WE HAVE MORE RECOVERABLE COAL
THAN ANYBODY IN THE WORLD.
WE NOW THINK WE HAVE MORE
RECOVERABLE NATURAL GAS THAN
ANYBODY IN THE WORLD.
BY 2016, UNDER THE CURRENT
E.P.A. RULES THAT ARE OUT THERE,
PLUS THIS ONE, OUR UTILITIES IN
OUR STATE WOULD GO UP AS MUCH AS
23% FOR THE AVERAGE MISSOURIAN,
MORE THAN THAT FOR PEOPLE IN
SOME PARTS OF OUR STATE, A 23%
INCREASE ON THE UTILITY BILL BY
2016.
THE ESTIMATES ARE THAT BY 2020,
WE WILL LOSE 76,000 JOBS BECAUSE
OF THAT INCREASE IN UTILITY
RATES.
AND, MADAM PRESIDENT, WHEREVER
THOSE JOBS GO, THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO GO TO CALIFORNIA OR
MASSACHUSETTS OR SOMEBODY THAT
HAS BILLS THAT ARE HIGHER THAN
OURS TODAY.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO PLACES
THAT CARE A WHOLE LOT LESS ABOUT
WHAT COMES OUT OF THIS
SMOKESTACK THAN WE DO.
LAST YEAR, IN STATES WHERE COAL
GENERATED AT LEAST 60% OF THE
ELECTRICITY, CUSTOMERS PAID 30%
LESS IN ENERGY PRICES THAN
STATES THAT USE LESS COAL THAN
THAT TO PRODUCE THEIR
ELECTRICITY, AND IN OUR STATE,
AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, 82% OF
OUR ELECTRICITY COMES FROM COAL.
THE
SENATOR'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
SO I WOULD JUST URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE FOR THIS
RULE THAT WOULD -- THE ISSUE
BEFORE US THAT WOULD SAY WE
DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS RULE, WE
WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, NOT
THING.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR THE
TIME.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
COULD YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH TIME
REMAINS?
THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE THREE MINUTES
47 SECONDS.
THE MAJORITY HAS 12 MINUTES 25
SECONDS.
I WOULD TAKE SIX
MINUTES AND RETAIN THAT BALANCE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, WE
ARE FACED WITH A RESOLUTION
TODAY TO ESSENTIALLY REPEAL A
RULE THAT AFTER 20 YEARS IN THE
MAKING IS ABOUT TO GO INTO
EFFECT.
IT WOULD STOP E.P.A., THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
FROM IMPLEMENTING THE FIRST-EVER
NATIONAL MERCURY AND AIR TOXICS
STANDARDS FOR POWER PLANTS.
NOW, A LITTLE BIT LATER, I WILL
TALK ABOUT WHAT MERCURY DOES TO
PEOPLE, AND LET ME ASSURE YOU
IT'S NOT GOOD.
I WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT THE OTHER
TOXICS THAT ARE EMITTED IN THESE
DIRTY PLANTS.
THEY'RE NOT GOOD EITHER.
WHEN I MENTION THEM, JUST THE
NAMES WILL SCARE YOU BECAUSE
THEY ARE NAMES LIKE ARSENIC AND
FORMALDEHYDE, NOT GOOD.
AND THEY'RE GOING INTO OUR
LUNGS.
AND THE MERCURY IS GETTING INTO
SICK.
THE FISH AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING
THAT IS WHY THIS IS SUCH A
DANGEROUS MOMENT IF WE WERE TO
PASS THIS AND STOP THE E.P.A.
FROM DOING THIS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW FOR EVERY $3
THAT WE INVEST, EVERY ONE
DOLLARS TO THREE DOLLARS, WE'RE
GOING TO GET BACK NINE DOLLARS
IN HEALTH BENEFITS.
SO IF YOU DO THE MATH AND FOLLOW
THE MATH, IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS
IMPORTANT.
IS COST-EFFECTIVE, CRITICALLY
JUST ASK A PARENT WHO HAS A
CHILD WHO WAS RUSHED TO THE
EMERGENCY ROOM WITH ASTHMA,
WHETHER THEY WANT THIS DONE.
JUST ASK A UTILITY, A
COAL-FIRED UTILITY THAT HAS MADE
THESE IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY,
HALF OF THEM HAVE, AND THEY'LL
TELL YOU IT HARDLY HAD ANY
IMPACT ON ELECTRICITY PRICES,
AND THEY'RE HAPPY WITH IT.
SO IF THIS RESOLUTION WERE TO
PASS AND THE POLICY BEHIND IT
WERE TO PASS, IT MEANS THAT
INSTEAD OF REWARDING THOSE
COAL-FIRED UTILITIES WHO ARE
DOING THE RIGHT THING, WE ARE
REWARDING THOSE WHO HAVEN'T DONE
THE RIGHT THING AND CONTINUE TO
SPEW FORTH THESE TOXINS.
WHAT IS AT STAKE?
WHAT IS AT STAKE?
AND I ASK YOU RHETORICALLY, I
SAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO OH MAY BE
LISTENING TO THIS, WHO DO YOU
TRUST MORE?
SENATORS, POLITICIANS, OR
PHYSICIANS?
OR THE NURSES?
I THINK YOU SHOULD TRUST ON
THESE NUMBERS THE PROFESSIONALS
WHO HAVE LOOKED AT THIS.
RESOLUTION WERE TO PASS
AND E.P.A. IS BLOCKED FROM
IMPLEMENTING THIS NEW CLEAN AIR
STANDARD, WE WILL SEE UP TO
11,000 ADDITIONAL PREMATURE
DEATHS.
4,700 HEART ATTACKS, 130,000
CASES OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA,
6,300 CASES OF ACUTE BRONCHITIS
AMONG CHILDREN, 5,700 EMERGENCY
ROOM VISITS, 540,000 DAYS OF
MISSED WORK.
AND, AGAIN, THE RULE PROVIDES
$3 TO $9 IN BENEFITS FOR EVERY
$1 THAT IS INVESTED.
NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR OTHER
THINGS FROM THE OPPONENTS OF THE
E.P.A., THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY.
BUT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA ARE
SMART.
THEY WERE JUST ASKED TWO MONTHS
AGO IF THEY WANT US TO INTERFERE
WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY AS THEY CLEAN
UP THE AIR, CLEAN UP THE
MERCURY, CLEAN UP THE TOXIC
SOOT, AND THEY SAID BY 78%,
STAY OUT OF IT, POLITICIANS,
AND LET THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY DO ITS JOB.
WE SHOULD THANK THE COAL
COMPANIES WHO HAVE ALREADY
CLEANED UP THEIR ACT, NOT
REWARD THOSE WHO HAVE DELAYED
CLEANING UP THEIR ACT.
AND, AGAIN, YOU'LL HEAR ALL
KINDS OF HORROR STORIES.
JUST ASK THE UTILITIES THAT HAVE
MADE THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE HAVE A LIST OF THEM
SOMEWHERE, BUT LET ME TELL YOU
THAT YOU WILL ALSO HEAR THERE
WILL BE LOST JOBS FROM THIS
RULE.
WHEN WE KNOW NOW THERE WILL BE
46,000 SHORT-TERM CONSTRUCTION
JOBS AS THESE PLANTS BECOME
CLEAN AND 8,000 LONG-TERM JOBS.
NOW, LOOK AT THE UTILITIES WHO
OPPOSE -- OPPOSE -- THE INHOFE
C.R.A.
AUSTIN ENERGY, AVISTA
CORPORATION, CALPINE
CORPORATION, CONSOLATION
ENERGY, EXELON, NATIONAL
GRID, NYPA, PUBLIC SERVICE
ENTERPRISE GROUP, AND SEATTLE
CITY LIGHTS.
POWER PLANTS.
THESE HAVE COAL-FIRED
AND THEY SAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
ENERGY.
LET'S KEEP MOVING TOWARD CLEAN
I ASKED YOU, DO YOU TRUST
POLITICIANS OR DO YOU TRUST
THOSE WHO I BELIEVE ARE
UNQUESTIONABLY, UNQUESTIONABLY
CHARACTER WITNESSES IN THIS
DEBATE.
LET'S SEE SOME OF THEM WHO
OPPOSE WHAT SENATOR INHOFE IS
TRYING TO DO TODAY.
THE CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION
OF THE U.S.
EVANGELICAL ENVIRONMENTAL
NETWORK.
FRANCISCAN ACTION NETWORK.
GENERAL BAPTIST CONVENTION.
GENERAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN
RABBIS, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF
CHURCHES U.S.A.
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST,
JUSTICE AND WITNESS MINISTRIES.
U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC
BISHOPS.
OKAY?
THAT'S WHO OPPOSE WHAT MY
FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE ARE
LEADING US TO TODAY, A REPEAL
OF CLEAN AIR RULES.
WHO DO YOU TRUST?
OR SOME OF THESE
GROUPS WHO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS
RESOLUTION?
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRICS, THE AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF RESPIRATORY
CARE, THE AMERICAN HEART
ASSOCIATION, THE LUNG
ASSOCIATION, THE NURSES
ASSOCIATION, THE PUBLIC HEALTH
ASSOCIATION, THE MARCH OF
DIMES, THE PHYSICIANS FOR
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TRUST
FOR AMERICA'S HEALTH.
THE
SENATOR HAS CONSUMED SIX
MINUTES.
I WOULD ASK FOR
ANOTHER TWO MINUTES AND THEN I
BALANCE.
WILL YIELD AND RETAIN THE
HERE'S THE CHART I WANTED TO
SHOW YOU ON ELECTRICITY PRICES.
YOU'VE HEARD GLOOM AND DOOM.
HERE ARE THE FACTS.
THERE WAS HARDLY ANY FLUCTUATION
IN UTILITY RATES WHEN HALF OF
IMPROVEMENTS.
THE COAL-FIRED PLANTS MADE THESE
DO NOT FALL FOR SCARE TACTICS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW UPGRADING A
UTILITY IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOT
TO BE DONE.
AND IT'S BUILT INTO THE
LONG-TERM PLANS OF THESE
UTILITIES.
NOW, WHAT POISONOUS EMISSIONS
DOES THIS CLEAN AIR RULE
ADDRESS?
I TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, AND
IN THE BALANCE OF MY TIME I'LL
GO THROUGH IT AGAIN.
BUT I'M GOING TO JUST NAME THESE
TOXINS.
MERCURY AND LEAD.
ARSENIC, SELINIUM, CADMIUM,
CHROMIUM, BENZENE,
FORMALDEHYDE, ACID GASES,
TOXIC SOOT POLLUTION.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS JUST
LISTEN TO WHAT I SAID, AND YOU
KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO BREATHE
THIS IN.
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE FISH
THAT CONTAINS TOO MUCH MERCURY
BECAUSE IT DAMAGES THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM OF CHILDREN AND HARMS THE
BRAINS OF INFANTS, AND WE KNOW
HOW DANGEROUS IT IS FOR PREGNANT
WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO EAT THIS
TYPE OF FISH.
LAST NIGHT WE HAD SENATOR
WHITEHOUSE HERE FROM RHODE
ISLAND, AND HE WAS ELOQUENT ON
THE POINT.
HE HAD A PICTURE, IT WAS
ACTUALLY A NORMAN ROCKWELL
PAINTING, IT WASN'T A REAL
PAINTING, IT WAS A WONDERFUL
POSTER, AND HE SAID HERE'S A
PERFECTLY -- PERFECT AMERICAN
SCENE OF A GRANDPA TAKING A
GRANDSON FISHING.
HE SAYS TODAY IN HIS STATE THEY
CAN'T REALLY EAT THE FISH.
MAYBE THEY CAN ONCE A MONTH EAT
WON FISH -- ONE FISH AND IN
SOME OF THEIR LAKES THEY CAN'T
EVEN EAT ANY.
THIS IS WRONG.
THIS IS POLLUTION BLOWING FROM
OTHER PLACES INTO THE NORTHEAST.
LET'S DEFEAT THIS RESOLUTION.
IT'S BAD FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS
COUNTRY.
I YIELD THE FLOOR AND RETAIN THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I WOULD REWORD THE
QUESTION, WHO DO YOU TRUST
MOST, ELECTED SENATORS OR
UNELECTED BUREAUCRATS?
I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY.
THE
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY.
YOU KNOW, THE
QUESTION IS IS SOLUTION GETTING
BETTER OR WORSE?
FROM ALL THE HISS HYSTERIA, WOULD
YOU THINK POLLUTION IS GETTING
SO MUCH WORSE.
ALL MEASUREMENTS OF POLLUTION
SHOW WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AND
B WE'VE EVER DONE.
MOST OF THE EMISSION, SULFUR
DIOXIDE, NIGHT TRUSS --
NITROURS OXIDE, THEY'RE GOING
DOWN.
DO YOU KNOW OVER HALF OF MERCURY
COMES FROM NATURAL SOURCES?
FOREST FIRES EMIT MORE MERCURY
THAN POWER PLANTS DO.
WE ALREADY HAVE EIGHT
REGULATIONS ON MERCURY, A
PLETHORA OF REGULATIONS AT THE
STATE LEVEL AND THE QUESTION
IS, IS MERCURY GETTING WORSE OR
IS MERCURY GETTING LESS?
WELL, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS,
THE AMOUNT OF MERCURY THAT'S
BEING EMITTED HAS BEEN CUT IN
HALF.
IF YOU MEASURE MERCURY IN THE
BLOOD OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN,
IT'S GETTING LESS.
IF YOU SAY WHAT IS A SAFE LEVEL
BELOW THAT.
OF MERCURY IN THE BLOOD, WE'RE
LOOK AT POPULATIONS THAT
EAT NOTHING BUT FISH, THE
SEYCHELLE ISLANDS, THEY'VE
FOUND ZERO EVIDENCE MERCURY IS
HURT HADDING ANY OF THEM.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT MERCURY
EMISSION, THEY'RE GOING DOWN.
THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE GOING
TO HAVE A BALANCE IN OUR
COUNTRY?
DOES THE OTHER SIDE CARE WHETHER
YOU WORK OR NOT?
YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE
TO TRY TO ELIMINATE THIS LAST
1%, BUT THE QUESTION, AT WHAT
COST?
MANY ARE ESTIMATING 50,000
JOBS.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR
DO YOU CARE IF YOU HAVE A JOB?
YES, WE WANT TO BE SAFE, BUT
THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCING ACT.
THE QUESTION YOU HAVE TO ASK,
IS THE ENVIRONMENT CLEANER OR
WORSE OFF?
THE ENVIRONMENT IS SO MUCH
CLEANER THAN IT USED TO BE.
THE RULES IN PLACE ARE SOMEWHAT
BALANCED, AND ARE KEEPING
POLLUTION UNDER CONTROL.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS GO
SO FAR OVER THE TOP THAT WE LOSE
JOBS.
THIS NEW RULE IS ESTIMATED TO
LOSE 50,000 JOBS.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED IS THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE A
SAY IN THIS.
WE DON'T -- WE DON'T NEED TO
GIVE UP THAT POWER TO UNELECTED
BUREAUCRATS WHO YOU CAN'T REMOVE
FROM OFFICE.
LET'S LET YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
GET INVOLVED TO HAVE MORE OF A
BALANCE IN THE REGULATIONS, AND
I SUGGEST THAT WE VOTE IN FAVOR
OF THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT --
MADAM PRESIDENT.
I UNDERSTAND OUR
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I COULD WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT SENATOR KYL HAVE
TWO MINUTES.
WITHOUT
MADAM PRESIDENT,
OBJECTION.
ACTUALLY I'LL JUST TAKE ONE
MINUTE.
I KNOW TIME IS SHORT.
I'LL PUT MY STATEMENT IN THE
RECORD AND WYATT THIS POINT I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
FULL TEXT OF MY STATEMENT BE
INSERTED IN THE RECORD AT THIS
POINT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU.
I'LL SIMPLY SAY ADOPTING THIS
RESOLUTION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
PREVENT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A
REGULATION WHICH I THINK HAS
BEEN VERY CLEARLY BEEN
ESTABLISHED DOES NOT MEET THE
TEST THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR
THE PROMULGATION OF A PUBLIC
HEALTH REGULATION AND FAILS ANY
TEST OF COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
AND THEREFORE I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO THINK ABOUT THE
EFFECT ON THE INDUSTRY, ON THE
PEOPLE OF AMERICA, ON THE
ECONOMY AT THIS TIME, AND ADOPT
THE RESOLUTION OFFERED BY THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I UNDERSTAND -- ONE
MORE MINUTE -- LET ME CLARIFY A
COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, SEVERAL HAVE MADE
ACT.
COMMENTS ABOUT THE CLEAN AIR
I WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
CLEAN AIR ACT, IT'S DONE A
GREAT JOB AND I THINK THAT
SHOULD BE CLARIFIED.
I THINK THE OTHER THINGS THAT
CERTAINLY WE'VE HAD THREE
MEDICAL DOCTORS TESTIFY AS TO
THE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS ON
THIS, AND I WOULD ONLY SAY
WERE REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING
TO THE -- ON THIS THING, KEEP
IN MIND WHAT THE SENATOR FROM
ALASKA, SENATOR MURKOWSKI,
SAID.
THIS MAXIMUM ACHIEVABLE CONTROL
TECHNOLOGY IS JUST NOT THERE.
SO IF YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS
AMENDMENT AND THEY ALLOW THIS
RULE TO CONTINUE, YOU ARE
EFFECTIVELY KILLING COAL IN
AMERICA THAT'S ACCOUNTABLE FOR
ALMOST 50% OF OUR ENERGY.
I THANK THE CHAIR.
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
AM I CORRECT THERE
ARE FOUR MINUTES REMAINING ON MY
SIDE?
CORRECT.
BY YIELD ONE OF
THOSE MINUTES TO SENATOR PRYOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS.
I WANT TO THANK THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA AND JUST
SAY RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU OPEN THE
PAIR, TURN ON THE EVENING NEWS
YOU SEE ADS FOR CLEAN COAL.
WE NEED CLEAN COAL.
WE'RE LIKE THE SAUDI ARABIA OF
COAL.
WE HAVE, THEY SAY, 400 YEARS'
WORTH OF COAL SUPPLY IN THIS
COUNTRY.
AND WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY NOW
TO TAKE 90% OF THE MERCURY OUT
AND A LOCAL OF THE PARTICLATES
AND WE SHOULD DO IT.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO DO IT.
THIS IS A RULE THAT'S BEEN 20
YEARS IN THE MAKING.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
PEOPLE DREAMED UP THE LAST
COUPLE YEARS.
IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING
THAT CONGRESS HAS MANDATED THAT
WE DO THIS.
AND I'D SAY THIS, IN CLOSING
FOR MY PART OF THE CLOSING, IS
THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MAKE
OURSELVES A FALSE CHOICE HERE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE ANTI-COAL
AND PRO-HEALTH.
WE CAN BE BOTH.
WE CAN DO WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE
HEALTH OF THE COUNTRY AND GOOD
FOR COAL AND THAT IS HAVE CLEAN
COAL, UPHOLD THIS RULE AND VOTE
AGAINST THE INHOFE RESOLUTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THANK YOU.
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
THE SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA ASKED
LO DO YOU TRUST MORE,
POLITICIANS OR BUREAUCRATS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.
I SAID WHO DO YOU TRUST,
POLITICIANS OR GROUPS LIKE THE
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS,
THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION,
LUNG ASSOCIATION, THE NURSES,
THE MARCH OF DIMES, ETC.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO
TRUST OF THE PUBLIC, THESE
GROUPS HAVE ONE CONCERN, AND
THAT CONCERN IS THE HEALTH OF
OUR PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO DEFEAT
THIS RESOLUTION, AND ALLOW THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
AFTER 20 YEARS TO FINALLY
PROMULGATE A RULE THAT WILL GO
AFTER THE WORST TOXINS THAT ARE
COMING OUT OF COAL-FIRED PLANTS.
I'M GOING THOUSAND A FEW OF
THESE.
MERCURY.
MERCURY IS A HEAVY METAL THAT
CAN DAMAGE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF
CHILDREN AND HARM THE BRAIN OF
INFANTS, CAUSING SLOWER MENTAL
DEVELOPMENT AND LOWER
INTELLIGENCE.
TO TAKE A STAND
AGAINST THE CHILDREN AND THEIR
BRAIN DEVELOPMENT?
IT CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE FOOD
CHAIN AND WE KNOW THIS, WHAT
HAPPENS IS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY
PREGNANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN,
CAN'T EAT THE FISH BECAUSE OF
THE HIGH CONTENT OF MERCURY.
TH
-- THEN THERE IS LEAD.
THESE ARE THE THINGS WE ARE
AIR.
TALKING ABOUT GETTING OUT OF THE
LEAD CAN DAMAGE THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM OF CHILDREN AND HARM THE
BRAINS OF INFANTS, CAUSING
SLOWER MENTAL DEVELOPMENT AND
LOWER INTELLIGENCE.
THERE IS NO KNOWN SAFE LEVEL OF
LEAD IN THE BLOOD OF CHILDREN.
THIS IS INDISPUTABLE FACT.
IT CAN HARM THE KIDNEYS AND
CAUSE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,
DAMAGE REPRODUCTION, CAUSE
MUSCLE AND JOINT PAIN, NERVE
DISORDERS.
WHY WOULD ANYONE, WHY WOULD
ANYONE STAND ON THIS FLOOR AND
SAY IT'S OKAY TO ALLOW THESE
TOXINS TO BE POLLUTING OUR
ENVIRONMENT?
ARSENIC, A HEAVY METAL THAT
CAUSES CANCER, DAMAGES THE
LIVER.
NERVOUS SYSTEM, KIDNEYS AND
POWER PLANTS ACCOUNT FOR 62% OF
ALL THE ARSENIC POLLUTION THAT
WE ARE FIGHTING AGAINST.
WHY WOULD ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT
THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT VOTE
FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND STOP THE
E.P.A. FROM CLEANING UP OUR AIR?
VOTE NO.
THERE IS NO REASON TO RISK THE
HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FOR VOTING FOR THE UTILITY
C.R.A. RESOLUTION.
IF THE RESOLUTION PASSES AND IF
THAT RESOLUTION WERE TO BECOME
THE POLICY OF THIS COUNTRY,
THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
HARMED.
OF AMERICANS EVERY YEAR WILL BE
THIS IS NOT RHETORIC.
THIS IS FACT.
SCIENTISTS HAVE TOLD US THIS.
THE HEALTH GROUPS HAVE TOLD US
THIS.
I URGE A STRONG NO VOTE AND I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
IS THERE
A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE: