[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARD UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ACT

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 23, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that, according to 
Environment Ohio, the Cleveland Lorain Elyria area has the 14th 
smoggiest air among all large metropolitan areas in the U.S. Only a few 
weeks ago, the President announced he would prevent an update of the 
rule designed to reduce smog. The American people deserve clean air.
  The Bush Administration failed to update National Ambient Air Quality 
Standard (NAAQS) under the Clean Air Act for ozone pollution until 
2006, when a standard was issued which was much less protective of 
public health than his scientific advisory board recommended; 75 parts 
per billion (ppb) of ozone, an air pollutant that is hazardous to 
fragile lung tissue. The scientific advisors' recommendation was 
between 60 and 70 ppb, which would have avoided up to 8,000 premature 
deaths; 3,800 nonfatal heart attacks; and 40,000 asthma attacks every 
year. The science is clear.
  By invoking the industry fake argument that pulling back the update 
will help the economy, the Obama Administration has chosen to act in 
contravention of the Clean Air Act, which clearly prohibits 
consideration of costs in setting the standards designed to protect 
public health.
  Everyone has a right to clean air. This abdication of responsibility 
affects millions of Americans every day, with every breath. It 
disproportionately affects the most vulnerable among us, like children, 
the elderly, and the ill. The story of the ozone rule is aptly told by 
Verna Riffe Biemel, a constituent of mine. She said:
  ``On Aug. 4, 2010, my mother succumbed to lung disease, pulmonary 
fibrosis. I vividly remember the difficulty she had breathing on bad 
air days. In fact, during her last year, she couldn't go outside at all 
on those days and felt the difference inside. No one likes to see a 
loved one struggle to breathe. No one should have to fight for clean 
air. Congress owes the American public the opportunity to breathe clean 
air.''
  She is right. If the President won't do it, Congress should.

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