[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                THE ReNOX '98 CONFERENCE IN RENO, NEVADA

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                          HON. JOHN E. ENSIGN

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 1998

  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. Speaker, rarely have policy-makers been able to agree 
on approaches to attack our environmental problems. Both sides of the 
aisle seem to muddy the waters with rhetoric that does nothing more 
than to exacerbate emotionalism and further ignore scientific reality. 
It is for this very reason that I am proud to announce an event being 
held later this month in my home state of Nevada. This event is 
specifically designed to cut through such rhetoric and provide real 
solutions to fight one of our most pressing environmental problems--the 
control of oxides of nitrogen or NOX, one of the most pervasive air 
pollutants.
  The Gunnerman Foundation and numerous other federal, state, and 
industry organizations are sponsoring the ReNOX '98 Conference in Reno 
from July 26th through July 28th. Developing solutions to NOX is just 
yet another in a long line of success stories for Gunnerman Foundation 
Chairman Rudy Gunnerman. Ten years ago, Mr. Gunnerman was called an 
alarmist for bringing to light critical air pollution problems. I call 
him a pioneer. His leadership has spurred technology and policy 
innovations on air pollution issues for over two decades.
  Similarly, this conference will stimulate action on the issue NOX. 
This conference will bring together industry, government and community 
interests to address barriers and develop policy recommendations that 
will benefit NOX reduction strategies.
  NOX emissions come from cars and trucks, coal-burning power plants, 
and industrial combustion and waste disposal operations. NOX emissions 
increased over 220 percent between 1940 and 1996, with a 9 percent rise 
from 1970 to 1996.
  NOX interacts with other compounds in the air to form ground-level 
ozone and acid rain--primary threats to human health and the 
environment. These critical air pollution problems have levied serious 
costs on our society, which range from asthma and other respiratory 
illnesses to the deterioration of our lakes, forests, soils, and our 
national monuments.
  Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the 
Gunnerman Foundation and Rudy Gunnerman for sponsoring this worthwhile 
forum. I invite my colleagues to join this effort to develop real 
solutions to an environmental problem that deserves our attention and 
commitment.

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