[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REGARDING THE RECENT PRESIDENT BUSH DECISIONS TO RELAX ENVIRONMENTAL 
                                 POLICY

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                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2001

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the recent 
decisions by President Bush to renege on a campaign promise to reduce 
carbon dioxide emissions by power plants. The President in the last 
week and a half has also rescinded a strict new standard for arsenic 
levels in drinking water, suspended new cleanup requirements for mining 
companies, and threatening to challenge a logging ban on nearly 60 
million acres of national forest land.
  Americans want to have the environment dealt with in a responsible 
way, and this way does not include cutting the acceptable level of 
arsenic in our drinking water from 10 parts per billion to 50 parts per 
billion. A responsible way to deal with the environment does not 
include allowing electric utilities to decide not to reduce emissions 
of carbon dioxide. I am concerned that unilateral decisions are being 
made without thought about the long-term consequences that these 
decisions will have on our environment and the health of our people.
  The United States-Mexico border suffers disproportionately from 
pollution. For example, my district of El Paso, Texas is an air-
quality, non-attainment area and experiences huge problems with 
emissions from power plants and other airborne pollutants. If there is 
one thing that we cannot afford to do at this juncture in our history, 
it is to begin relaxing environmental standards in our country without 
taking into consideration the long-term effects of these actions.
  I urge the administration and my colleagues in Congress to act in a 
more responsible manner when it comes to environmental policy and the 
development of legislation that may have dire long-term consequences.

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