[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 5 (Monday, January 31, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AIR QUALITY AND AIR POLLUTION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS MUST BE ADDRESSED

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this evening the environmental 
agency of the State of Texas will hold a meeting to address the 
question of air quality and air pollution in the City of Houston in the 
State of Texas. I rise to the floor to ask my constituents and the 
State of Texas to take seriously the devastation that we have 
experienced with poor air quality. Many of my constituents are already 
suffering from a high degree of respiratory illnesses. Houston has been 
noted as the number one city with air pollution.
  In addition, we have not come up with solutions that can address the 
concerns and remedy the problem.
  Tonight, although I will not be able to join my constituents in this 
meeting, I am pleading that we work with the Environmental Protection 
Agency; that we work with our State environmental agency; that we ask 
the governor of the State of Texas to join with us to expeditiously 
formulate a plan that will address the concerns that are devastating 
our community, poor air quality, poor health conditions; and that this 
evening we will have an open and vigorous debate and discussion that 
real solutions can come about at the meeting being held at the Houston-
Galveston council tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Houston, Texas; and that we 
will realize that the Environmental Protection Agency is there to help 
and not to hurt; and that we will have a plan that will help to enhance 
the quality of life of all Houstonians in the State of Texas.

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