[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16450]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL OZONE POLLUTION STANDARDS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Quigley) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, since the Clean Air Act was enacted into 
law more than 40 years ago, we have seen tremendous progress in 
cleaning up our air and in protecting thousands of communities around 
the country.
  Unfortunately, many Americans are still living in communities where 
poor air quality puts them and their loved ones' health at risk. That 
is why I am proud to support the EPA's new standard for ground level 
ozone pollution.
  Whether we work outdoors or simply want our children to be able to 
play outside, the EPA's recent national ozone pollution standards bring 
us one step closer to cleaner, healthier communities for everyone to 
enjoy. This proposal would lower the current standard of 75 parts per 
billion to a standard in the range of 65 to 70 parts per billion, while 
taking public comments on a level as low as 60.
  Despite what many of my colleagues seem to believe, successful public 
health protection depends on the latest scientific data, and as many 
Members have been so eager to point out, we are not scientists. All we 
can do is rely on the best data out there from experts in the field, 
and in this case the data is quite clear.
  A significantly expanded body of scientific evidence, including more 
than 1,000 new studies since the last review of the standards, show 
that ozone can cause harmful effects to health and the environment. 
Health experts, epidemiologists, and numerous medical organizations 
have clearly stated that the existing EPA smog standard of 75 parts per 
billion is not adequate to protect public health, particularly for 
vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, outdoor workers, 
and those with chronic medical conditions like asthma. In all, 147 
million people in the U.S., almost half of the country, are breathing 
unhealthy air.
  Earlier this year the American Lung Association's State of the Air 
2014 ranked Chicago as the 14th most polluted city in the Nation for 
short-term particle pollution. The city also ranked 20th for most 
ozone-polluted and for year-round particle pollution. In fact, nearly 
half of all Americans live in counties where ozone or particle 
pollution levels make the air unhealthy to breathe.
  Studies have linked breathing ozone to an increased risk of premature 
deaths and difficulty breathing, as well as other serious illnesses. In 
the U.S. today, one child in 10 already suffers from asthma, and ozone 
pollution only makes things worse.
  When asked what steps need to be taken to reduce the air pollution, 
the American Lung Association said that Federal action, including the 
EPA setting strong, health-based standards to limit ozone pollution, is 
one of the most important action steps we can take.
  When we update our national ozone pollution standards, we are not 
only cleaning up our air but also protecting those most at risk. These 
changes would have a lasting and positive impact on my home State of 
Illinois, where 1.2 million adults and 13 percent of children suffer 
from smog-related asthma, well above the national average.
  President Theodore Roosevelt once said, ``In any moment of decision, 
the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can 
do is nothing.'' Knowing the tremendous impact ozone pollution has on 
our environment and community health, the decision to do nothing is not 
a viable option.
  Per usual, there are those here attacking this new proposal with 
claims of job loss and economic harm. According to science deniers and 
special interests, this proposal will cause the sky to fall. The facts, 
however, state otherwise.
  Since 1970 we have cut harmful air pollution by almost 70 percent 
while the U.S. economy has more than tripled. An ozone standard in the 
proposed range of 65 to 70 parts per billion has public health benefits 
worth billions of dollars. Reducing ozone and particle pollution 
nationwide will avoid countless premature deaths and thousands of 
asthma-related emergency room visits, not to mention fewer missed 
school and work days.
  The impact of ozone on agricultural workers is also important in its 
own right. A reduction in the ozone standard would translate into an 
annual cost savings of approximately $1 billion in labor expenditure.
  We have countless scientific studies that clearly display the 
negative health risks associated with unregulated ozone pollution. 
Nevertheless, critics continue to play a dangerous role in denouncing 
the science and the law EPA has used for more than 40 years.
  The science cannot be ignored. Now is the time to protect the most 
vulnerable among us. Now is the time to fight for better air quality 
across the country. Now is the time for action to protect American 
health and the environment.
  We cannot afford to wait. Clean air is essential to a healthy 
community and a strong economy.

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