SEEC House Democrats, science, health, national security groups oppose the Dirty Air Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Today Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Lois Capps (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Steve Cohen (D-TN) - members of the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) - joined with representatives from the Union of Concerned Scientists, American Lung Association, and Operation Free in calling for the House to reject the Dirty Air Act - H.R. 910. SEEC released the following statement opposing the legislation:
“The Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition opposes H.R. 910, which represents a dangerous rejection of science and an attempt to gut the effective, bipartisan Clean Air Act. H.R. 910 has been mischaracterized as the “Energy Tax Prevention Act,” but the bill is more aptly described as the “Dirty Air Act.” Instead of accepting science, protecting Americans from air pollution, and working to create jobs and a sustainable and secure energy future, the sponsors of the Dirty Air Act have brought this bill forward in an attempt to provide yet another loophole for the nation’s biggest polluters. The American people overwhelmingly support the Clean Air Act, and will reject the Dirty Air Act.”
H.R. 910, which is officially known as the “Energy Tax Prevention Act” although it would not prevent any taxes, will be voted on in the House this week. Members of SEEC and these organizations oppose the bill, which would legislatively overturn the scientific finding that greenhouse gas pollution poses a threat to public health and welfare, repeal important Clean Air Act pollution control standards that protect public health, and increase both American oil dependence and fuel costs.
At a press conference Wednesday morning members of SEEC were joined by Lexi Shultz, Climate and Energy Legislative Director for the Union of Concerned Scientists; Paul Billings, Vice President, National Policy and Advocacy for the American Lung Association; and Terron Sims, a former U.S. Army Captain and a Member of Operation Free. They joined SEEC in denouncing H.R. 910 as a blatant attack on science and on the bipartisan Clean Air Act that has improved air quality and public health in the United States in a cost-effective manner, for 40 years.
“The American Lung Association strongly opposes H.R. 910 because the legislation would block the Environmental Protection Agency from setting sensible safeguards to protect public health from the effects of air pollution,” said Billings.
“H.R. 910 would legislatively overturn the overwhelming scientific evidence showing that carbon emissions pose a clear threat to public health,” said Shultz. “Members of Congress who vote for this legislation will put a big stop sign in the road to a healthy future for our children.”
Former Capt. Sims, an Iraq War veteran and Truman National Security Project Fellow, also spoke of H.R. 910 as a proposal that will increase America's dangerous oil dependence: “H.R. 910 is reckless and shortsighted, plain and simple,” said Sims. “Preventing the EPA from doing its job only prolongs our dangerous addiction to oil. This legislation isn’t good for anyone, except for big oil producers like Iran and Venezuela, countries that would like nothing more than to keep profiting from our oil addiction while we remain vulnerable and dependent.”
At a time of rising gas prices, H.R. 910 would jeopardize the important progress that has been made by the Obama Administration to increase vehicle fuel efficiency standards, and decrease U.S oil demand and Americans' fuel costs. The legislation would also obstruct future federal efforts - and prohibit state actions - to further reduce oil dependence.
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The Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) is a coalition of forty-eight Democratic members of the House of Representatives that was founded in January 2009 to be a focused, active, and effective caucus for advancing “policies that promote clean energy technology innovation and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, and create green collar jobs throughout the product supply-chain, and polices to help arrest global warming and protect our nation’s clean air, water and natural environment.” SEEC is co-chaired by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Steve Israel (D-NY). SEEC vice chairs are Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Paul Tonko (D-NY).
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