[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ACT

  (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, in our Nation's inner cities, minority 
communities are being victimized by toxic polluters, creating an 
environmental crisis, a health crisis, and a civil rights crisis in 
this country.
  In my district in New York there are over 2000 industrial facilities, 
a radioactive storage yard and a huge sewage treatment plant. The 
effect of this pollution is discriminatory. The children in my district 
are dying of cancer, suffering from asthma, and have toxic levels of 
lead.
  Study after study has shown that minority communities bear the brunt 
of toxic pollution in this country. Today I introduced the Community 
Environmental Equity Act, which will apply title VI of the Civil Rights 
Act to toxic polluters. I urge you all to cosponsor this important 
legislation. It is time to realize that we cannot have social justice 
until we first have environmental justice.

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