Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman John Dingell (D-MI15) joined U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) along with Carol Browner, public health and business leaders at a bi-cameral press conference in honor of the 21st anniversary of the enactment of the Clean Air Act Amendments. Below is his statement as prepared for delivery:
“The Clean Air Act was enacted in 1970, and significantly amended in 1990, with strong bipartisan support. In both instances we had divided government, with a Democratic Congress and Republicans in the White House. We worked together across party lines to enact a law that would protect public health and the environment, as well as our economy. And since 1970, the Clean Air Act has reduced key air pollutants by 60 percent, while at the same time the economy grew by over 200 percent.
“As the author of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, I am proud of what has been accomplished. Our air is significantly cleaner than it was 20 years ago when the amendments were signed into law and those changes have also shown that we can clean the air while protecting jobs and the economy.
“Like other human entities, the EPA has made mistakes in implementing the Clean Air Act. I have from time to time been critical of EPA and, as we work to improve our fragile economy, it is important that we support businesses so they can have the tools to create and maintain jobs and put Americans back to work. However, it is also important that we not cede ground in out efforts to keep our air clean; the health of our citizens is too important.
“Unfortunately, some serious changes to the Clean Air Act have passed the House this year. Instead of working to find bipartisan solutions as we did over 20 years ago, the majority party in the House has decided to move forward with significant changes designed to erode the Clean Air Act with minimal debate or input from all affected parties. I want to be sure that any solution to air pollution issues represents an equitable balance of protecting our environment and not harming our fragile economy. The existing Clean Air Act is such a solution and before we take any steps to alter it, we need to know we have developed something much better to put in its place.
“We need to have more debates and discussions like we did over 20 years ago. We need to continue to scrutinize policies like the Clean Air Act to ensure they’re striking the right balance between protecting the environment and public health as well as building our economy and investing in American jobs. On the anniversary of the Clean Air Act, I hope my colleagues in the House and Senate will work to have those bipartisan discussions and I look forward to working to find that balance that will benefit all Americans.”
###
