[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 92 (Friday, June 24, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1199-E1200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 JOBS AND ENERGY PERMITTING ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2021) to 
     amend the Clean Air Act regarding air pollution from Outer 
     Continental Shelf activity:

  Mr. HOLT. Madam Chair, I voted against H.R. 2021, the so-called Jobs 
and Energy

[[Page E1200]]

Permitting Act. H.R. 2021 is the latest piece of legislation from the 
Majority that puts Big Oil before public welfare.
  H.R. 2021 is yet another attack on the Clean Air Act. This harmful 
legislation would revoke Clean Air Act protections mandating that oil 
companies use pollution control technology for vessels used in offshore 
drilling. H.R. 2021 would allow oil companies to measure pollutants and 
toxics generated from offshore drilling rigs at onshore locations, 
effectively allowing for offshore sources to generate larger and larger 
amounts of toxic air pollution.
  While these permitting loopholes present clear dangers to public 
health and welfare, perhaps the most egregious affront to the Clean Air 
Act is the provision in H.R. 2021 that eliminates the Environmental 
Appeals Board at EPA. This board provides those citizens directly 
affected by coastal air pollution access to an impartial review of 
permitting decisions. To be clear, this misguided legislation puts oil 
companies before the health of the American public.
  For 40 years, the Clean Air Act has been successful in reducing 
emissions into the atmosphere of pollutants and chemicals that kill 
people and endanger public health. Its success is due, in large part, 
to being enacted and strengthened based on the best science to find the 
most effective ways to remove the worst pollutants from our air. The 
Clean Air Act should not be undercut to benefit large oil companies.
  If enacted into law, this bill would have far reaching consequences 
and damage public health in the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf 
Coasts. The world's most profitable oil companies should be held to the 
highest public health and environmental safety standards, not given a 
free pass to generate toxic air pollution. I urge my colleagues to vote 
against this harmful and reckless legislation.

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