[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CLEAN AIR FOR OUR BORDER

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                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2009

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I have introduced The Foreign Air Impact 
Regulation (FAIR) Air Act (H.R. 677). The purpose of this bill is to 
combat air pollution along our borders and to ensure that our 
communities are not unfairly penalized.
  Our border communities are being besieged by toxic pollutants from 
neighboring countries. This is making the air quality along our border 
worse than ever--and leaves our communities with little recourse to 
improve the situation.
  The FAIR AIR Act says that if pollution from another country causes 
non-attainment of air pollution regulations, then the EPA and the 
Secretary of State should work together to lower it! Furthermore, the 
effective date of reclassification should be delayed until the 
Secretary of State and local leaders develop a plan with the 
neighboring country to improve the air quality.
  We cannot put this international problem on the backs of those who 
simply happen to live along the border. There truly needs to be a bi-
national cooperative solution to address this important issue. We all 
breathe the same air and it is only with bi-national cooperation and 
working together to achieve better air quality standards for all!

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