[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 89 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RELATING TO ``CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION 
   FROM NEW MOTOR VEHICLES: HEAVY-DUTY ENGINE AND VEHICLE STANDARDS''

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2023

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, S.J. Res. 11 makes clear House 
Republicans are only interested in fighting for baseless, dangerous 
pollution control rollbacks that benefit polluters, not the American 
people. The Biden Administration's Heavy-Duty NOX standard 
is common sense, realistic, and the way forward to protect the American 
people's health. 1 in 3 Americans are living in counties with unhealthy 
air pollution. This includes more than 100 million people--including 
23.6 million children and 15.4 million people 65 or older--living in 
areas with high levels of ozone pollution--which the trucking sector is 
a large contributor to. According to the American Lung Association, a 
widespread transition to zero-emission transportation by 2050 will 
generate over $72 billion in avoided health costs, save approximately 
6,300 lives, and prevent more than 93,000 asthma attacks and 416,000 
lost workdays each year. Heavy Duty Vehicle pollution is dangerous and 
has been linked to numerous health concerns including asthma, heart 
disease, and cancer. Children, whose little lungs are still developing, 
are particularly at risk, as are the more than 72 million Americans--
often communities of color and low-income communities--who live within 
200 meters of Heavy-Duty Vehicle freight routes. Back home in my 
backyard, the Progress Village and Palm River communities have been 
facing the cumulative burdens of air pollution from heavy-duty trucks 
for decades. Dating all the way back to the historic systematic racist 
redlining that cut a thriving African American community in half with a 
highway. The standard would reduce exposure to traffic pollution that 
is linked to heart disease and lung cancer mortality, asthma onset in 
both children and adults, and acute lower respiratory infections in 
children. All of which, my constituents back home in Progress Village 
and Palm River have been battling for decades. In addition, 
NOX emissions can cause lifelong lung damage, and interact 
with sunlight to form ground-level ozone and particulate matter 
pollution. The standard will significantly reduce nitrogen oxide 
emissions (by cutting it nearly in half) and prevent 2,900 premature 
deaths annually. This higher exposure burdens underserved residents 
with adverse health outcomes and higher healthcare costs. This 
Republican resolution will harm health of the American people and 
environment, and the health of American pocketbooks.
  It is obvious, yet again, Republicans are too focused on protecting 
the profits of polluters instead of protecting the American people. The 
science behind this standard is clear--and the response by industry was 
even clearer. EPA engaged robustly with trucking, engine manufacturing, 
and other industry stakeholders throughout the rulemaking process. The 
period for filing a petition for judicial review closed on March 27, 
and no lawsuits were filed against this standard. Let me repeat that, 
no lawsuits were filed. The standard requires incremental improvement 
based on the same types of technology already deployed in heavy-duty 
diesel trucks. The biggest difference truck operators will see on new 
trucks is an increase in the required manufacturing warranty period 
from 100,000 miles to 450,000 miles, which should reduce their 
maintenance costs. The standard includes one of the most important 
transportation vehicles that every American is familiar with, 
especially our own children, the school bus. The Biden Harris 
Administration have been committed to protecting our environment, our 
children, and our future. The Clean School Bus Program, created with 
funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides $5 billion 
over the next five years to replace existing school buses with zero-
emission and low-emission models. This will provide cleaner air--
through electric and alternatively-fueled buses eliminate or reduce 
school bus exhaust, which is linked to asthma. This will provide 
reduced health risks--especially for children whose lungs are still 
developing. This will provide--reduced greenhouse gas emissions, which 
contribute to climate change. This will even provide grid resilience. 
Through the usage of bidirectional chargers, school buses can store 
energy for distribution to the grid when needed. It is essential that 
we protect our children, our future. And if this resolution passes, we 
will be doing exactly the opposite--shouldn't we all want a future for 
our children? It is clear my colleagues across the aisle don't want to 
protect the American people, or our children, but only the profits of 
polluters. I urge my colleagues to not support this resolution.

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