[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 19, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H2111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              ENERGY BILL NEEDS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

  (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the energy bill we 
are about to debate this week is presented as a major step forward in 
American energy policy. But it is not. It is quite the opposite.
  This bill does nothing to improve the environment of this country or 
cut down on ozone pollution exposure. This bill does not force big 
polluters to clean up. Rather, it provides billions of dollars in tax 
breaks to politically favored energy industries that do not deserve 
them at a time when the country can ill afford it.
  Mr. Speaker, the State of Texas ranks number one among other States 
in per capita consumption of electricity and second in ozone pollution 
exposure. Last year Children's Hospital of Dallas had 4,000 emergency 
department visits for treatment of asthma attacks. The average age of 
these kids was 5 years old.
  More and more, there are hospitalizations. More and more, there are 
deaths from the pollution that we suffer in Texas; and I will offer an 
amendment to try and correct it. But, Mr. Speaker, I know that probably 
I am in the minority, but we must clean up the environment.

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