[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 87 (Wednesday, June 26, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6052-S6053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          POWERPLANT POLLUTION

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I wish to shift the talk now to 
pollution and spend a few moments talking about homeland security in 
relationship to that.
  The citizens of this Nation have been hearing a lot about the war on 
terrorism. They read daily in the papers about our troops overseas. I 
think often of our men and women overseas and pray for their safe 
return to their homes and families. I have the greatest respect for 
those who serve in the national armed services. I have fond memories of 
my time in the service myself. I learned about the world, about 
commitment, and about service during my years in the Navy. I would not 
have traded that time for anything.
  There is a war on, and we all need to remember that we conduct the 
business of this Nation in accordance with that reality. This war 
continues to be a top priority for this administration. The 
administration indicates that we have the opportunity to protect 
hundreds of thousands and possibly tens of thousands of people by 
taking the right steps now to root out terror. In fact, this Congress 
passed a massive supplemental appropriations bill to assist in those 
efforts. We are also debating a Defense Department authorization bill 
that adds to that cause.
  Here in the Capitol, we have begun debating the need for increased 
security at home and the creation of a new homeland security agency. I 
fully support the President in his efforts to address these great 
challenges, and I agree with the efforts the President has put forth 
following the lead of Senator Lieberman.
  I think this Congress should move quickly and pass legislation 
creating the Department of Homeland Security.
  Let us all pause for a moment and consider what we are doing.
  Over the last few months, we have listened carefully to the 
administration about their efforts to conduct this war both home and 
abroad. We can prevent the loss of life in the future, they say, by 
investing in homeland security and the war on terrorism, and I do not 
disagree with these efforts.
  But if homeland security is about protecting our citizens from harm 
and even death, I have a suggestion for this administration that they 
may not like to hear.
  I hope they are listening.
  It has to do with public health. It will not cost the Federal 
Treasury a penny. It will save thousands of lives. It will reduce 
hospital visits. It will save consumers money.
  What is my grand idea?
  Well, it is not new. And it is something we can do today with long 
lasting results for every man, woman, and child in this Nation. Here it 
is. It is simple. Reduce powerplant emissions. Let me repeat that: 
Reduce powerplant emissions.
  Studies show that 30,000 Americans die every year due to powerplant 
pollution--30,000 deaths from powerplant pollution alone. Incredible.
  Let me work slow through a list of real, but depressing, statistics 
on powerplant pollution.
  Powerplant pollution results in 20,000 hospitalizations each year, 
600,000 asthma attacks, 5 million days of lost work due to pollution-
related illness, and 18,000 cases of bronchitis.
  Powerplant pollution has resulted in mercury advisories in 44 of the 
50 States. In these 44 States, our citizens are asked not to eat the 
fish caught in the lakes and streams.
  Because of powerplant pollution, 6 million American women and 
children are exposed to mercury levels well above those considered safe 
by Federal health authorities.
  According to the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
10 percent of women in the United States have mercury levels above 
those considered protective of newborns. As a result, as many as 
390,000 children are born each year at risk for neurological 
development problems due to exposure to mercury in the womb.
  The March issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association 
found that millions of people who live in areas polluted by fine 
particles have about the same increased risk of dying from heart or 
lung disease or lung cancer as people who live with a cigarette smoker. 
Here is the problem. You can ask a smoker to go outside or to quit, but 
you cannot kick a dirty powerplant out of your backyard.
  This is simply the beginning of my list regarding the impacts of 
powerplant pollution.
  There is acid rain, smog, lung disease, heart disease, asthma, on and 
on.
  Actually, I would like to touch on asthma for one minute. I have a 
chart indicating what is happening because of these problems. Many of 
us know children who have contracted asthma. For asthmatics, like the 
boy in the picture beside me, it is a frustrating and dangerous 
condition that disrupts many lives.
  Just this year, a respected public health journal published the first 
study showing a direct connection between the onset of asthma in young, 
healthy children and their exposure to ozone.

[[Page S6053]]

The journal found that children exercising outdoors are more likely to 
contract asthma if they live in areas polluted with high ozone 
concentrations. This dangerous ozone is created by pollution from old 
power plants.
  Just last week, the General Accounting Office issued this report 
saying that older power plants are responsible for up to 50 percent of 
the harmful air emissions released into the air today--50 percent from 
old power plants.
  According to the Energy Information Administration, there has been no 
change in the average coal-fired power plant efficiency in the last 40 
years. Older powerplants emit about twice the amount of harmful 
pollutants for every increment of electricity generated than newer 
powerplants.
  But even some of these issues pale in comparison to the impact that 
the release of carbon dioxide from powerplants will have if we do not 
act soon. Carbon dioxide emissions have been proven to contribute to 
climate change, and this climate change will have a number of dramatic 
impacts on our Nation.
  Let me list a few. Heat-related deaths will increase 100 percent in 
cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and 
others. In most of New England, the hardwood forest will vanish. In 
Delaware, a predicted 20-inch rise in sea level will flood 50 percent 
of Delaware Bay wetlands. Brook trout nationwide may lose 50 percent of 
their habitat. Drought will be pervasive.
  Coastal States, such as Alaska, will see a massive impact, including 
flooding of coastal villages, storm surges, and extensive 
infrastructure damage from temperature change, like the melting of the 
permafrost in northern regions.
  Even the administration's recent Climate Action Report recognizes the 
grave impacts that climate change will have on our health, economy, and 
the environment.
  What are we doing about this air pollution and global warming crisis?
  What action is this administration taking to reduce harmful emissions 
from old polluting powerplants?
  What is the Environmental Protection Agency doing to save lives and 
reduce the health impacts from powerplant--related air pollution?
  Let me tell you. Brace yourself. The answer is nothing. This 
administration is doing absolutely nothing to reduce pollution from old 
polluting powerplants like this one in the picture.
  Why are they doing nothing? I ask that question often, but there does 
not seem to be an adequate answer.
  They are doing something. Let me tell you what they are doing.
  The administration just last week announced what could be the biggest 
roll back in the Clean Air Act in its history. The White House 
announced a proposal to allow these old polluting powerplants to live 
on forever, almost unregulated. Remember, these old powerplants are 
responsible for 50 percent of harmful air pollution.
  The White House, along with EPA, has decided to exempt most of these 
old powerplants from further regulation.
  These are the same powerplants causing asthma in our Nation's 
children. These are the same powerplants causing neurological problems 
in newborns. These are the same plants killing our forests and lakes. 
These are the same powerplants adding billions of tons of carbon 
dioxide to the atmosphere. And they just got a ticket to pollute 
indefinitely.
  What else is the administration doing? They have a policy paper, 
called Clear Skies, that outlines a proposal to reduce three of the 
four most harmful pollutants from old powerplants. I commend the 
President for directing the EPA to develop this policy paper. But what 
have they done to follow up on the announcement of the Clear Skies 
Initiative? Nothing.
  They have not developed legislation. They have not produced 
supporting analysis on why their proposal works. They have not begun to 
negotiate with Members of the Senate or the House. They have been all 
but silent on the issue.
  Why? Why are they letting this massive public health crisis continue? 
It is a great mystery.
  Congress, led by the Senate, isn't going to wait any longer. This 
week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will pass the 
Clean Power Act.
  The Jeffords-Collins-Lieberman-Snowe Clean Power Act sets real 
pollution targets. This bill will quickly reduce the harmful air 
emissions that result in sickness and death. We want to give these old 
polluting powerplants the tools and guidance to clean up and meet 
modern standards.
  I hope this administration can embrace the Clean Power Act. I am 
skeptical though, that they will. Why? they argue that it will cost too 
much.
  But let's look at the analysis. According to the Department of 
Energy, a four pollutant bill could lower Americans' electric bills by 
$30 billion a year. That's $30 billion each year. The DOE report 
outlines that the longer we wait to enact real powerplant pollution 
reductions, the more expensive it will be.
  The other reason this administration refuses to embrace real air 
pollution reductions is carbon. They are scared of regulating carbon.
  Even though the President committed to controlling carbon emissions 
from old powerplant, today this administration can't even discuss the 
issues. Even though the President finally acknowledged in his own 
report this month that global warming is a real problem. Even though 
the entire international community is working to implement the Kyoto 
Treaty to reduce carbon emissions.
  What is this administration doing about carbon? Nothing. This doing 
nothing seems to be a pattern. I would like to ask the administration, 
how do we get from nothing to something?
  I will make it my full-time job to convince the White House that 
protecting public health is equally as important as public security. 
The facts are overwhelming, Homeland Security starts at home. It is 
about saving lives. The greatest threat are the polluters and we can 
stop them. That is where we will get the best return on homeland 
security. And I support it.
  We can save thousands of lives, and prevent lots of disease and 
environmental degradation if we act now to reduce powerplant pollution.
  I hope and pray the administration will see the light, if they can, 
through the smog.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Stabenow). Under the previous order, the 
second 30 minutes shall be under the control of the Republican leader 
or his designee.
  The Senator from Alaska.

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