[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CLEAN SMOKESTACKS ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2001

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am again joining with Representative 
Boehlert in introducing the Clean Smokestacks Act of 2001. This 
important legislation will finally cleanup the nation's dirty, 
antiquated powerplants.
  When I originally introduced the Clean Smokestacks Act with 
Representative Boehlert in the last Congress, we had a modest 
beginning. I think we had a total of 15 cosponsors and little 
attention. But by the end of last year, the bill's supporters had grown 
to over 120 House Members.
  This year, the Senate is joining in our effort. Senators Jeffords and 
Lieberman have introduced a companion bill in the Senate, entitled the 
Clean Power Act. I am hopeful that together we can get the job done.
  Electricity generation is our nation's single largest source of air 
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Nationally, power plants are 
responsible for about 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, 64 
percent of sulfur dioxide emissions, 26 percent of nitrogen oxides 
emissions and 33 percent of mercury emissions.
  These four pollutants are the major cause of some of the most serious 
environmental problems the nation faces, including acid rain, smog, 
respiratory illness, mercury contamination, and global warming. If we 
are going to improve air quality and reduce global warming, we must 
curb the emissions from these powerplants.
  President Bush was right when he promised during the campaign to 
support legislation that would reduce all four powerplant pollutants. 
The Clean Smokestacks Act and the Clean Power Act embody this sensible 
approach. In fact, prior to the president's surprising reversal last 
week, I had hoped we could win the President's support for our 
bipartisan approach.
  Our job has become more difficult given the President's unfortunate 
decision to oppose curbing carbon dioxide emissions. But I believe that 
we have reached the point of no turning back on a four pollutant 
approach for powerplant emissions.
  When the original Clean Air Act was enacted in 1970, the electric 
utility industry argued that stringent controls shouldn't be imposed on 
the oldest, dirtiest plants since they would soon be replaced by new 
state-of-the-art facilities. Although Congress acceded to these 
arguments and shielded old powerplants from the law's requirements, 
many of these facilities--which were already old in 1970--are still in 
use. In some cases, powerplants from 1922 are still in operation and 
have never had to meet the environmental requirements that a new 
facility would.
  As a result, a single plant in the Midwest can emit as much pollution 
as the entire state of Massachusetts.
  Opponents of our effort say that it will cost too much to address 
carbon dioxide emissions. But there have been at least four other 
studies published in the last six months by the Department of Energy 
and others that conclude that the costs of a multi-pollutant strategy 
will be quite reasonable.
  In conclusion, let me commend Representative Boehlert and Senators 
Jeffords, Lieberman, Collins, and Schumer. I am pleased to be part of 
this bipartisan, bicameral approach to strengthening the Clean Air Act 
and protecting our environment.

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