[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 60 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E296-E297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOAQUIN CASTRO

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2023

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to cast 
my vote against H.R. 1 on March 30, 2023 due to my ongoing recovery 
from cancer surgery.
  Last year, House and Senate Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction 
Act to bring down household energy costs and create good-paying jobs in 
the growing U.S. clean energy sector.
  Instead of building from that progress, House Republicans have chosen 
to champion H.R. 1--an extraordinary piece of corporate welfare that 
would weaken enforcement of nearly all environmental and public health 
laws, exempt big polluters from Clean Air Act

[[Page E297]]

and hazardous waste permitting requirements, and rob Americans of much 
of their ability to make their voices heard against projects with 
serious environmental consequences for their communities.
  This legislation would risk America's clean air, water, and public 
lands to line the pockets of big polluters who are already making 
record profits. Had I been present, I would have voted NO on Roll Call 
No. 182.

                          ____________________