[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 39 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H1065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              DANGERS OF ARSENIC LEVELS IN DRINKING WATER

  (Mr. HINCHEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to call to the attention of the 
Members of the House an issue of great public concern because it 
affects public health.
  In 1997, this Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency 
to upgrade standards for arsenic across the country. The standards that 
we have today have been in effect since 1942. They are 50 parts per 
billion of arsenic in drinking water. All around the world, countries 
have raised the standards to 10 parts per billion, because arsenic in 
drinking water is known to cause cancer of the bladder, the urinary 
tract, lung cancer, and other ailments.
  The backtracking on this rule that took place earlier this week is of 
great concern to all of us. The Bush administration has announced that 
it will not follow through on reducing arsenic in drinking water. This 
is a threat to the health and safety of more than 31 million Americans 
who now drink water with elevated levels of arsenic. Most of these 
people live in the southwestern portion of our country.
  I call upon the Bush administration and this Congress to stick by the 
raising of these standards for arsenic in drinking water. This is a 
matter of grave concern for public health and safety.

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