Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro represents the third district of Connecticut in the US House of Representatives. I truly consider her to be my representative because I agree with her stance on a variety of issues, including clean air. In a recent response to an email I sent to her about the TRAIN Act, Rosa wrote the following (emphasis and links added by me):
…Like you, I have deep concerns about the House Republicans’ agenda to weaken our clean air standards and undermine the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate greenhouse gases and other pollutants. When Congress passed the Clean Air Act (CAA) 40 years ago, it specifically gave the EPA the responsibility to protect the public and to regulate greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
I also share your concerns with mercury pollution. The EPA estimates that mercury is contaminating 3, 781 bodies of water across our nation causing it to be the most common contaminate in fish in every state. Mercury pollution has also been linked to neurological impairments, fertility defects, and cardiovascular problems. In addition, mercury pollution is detrimental to our wildlife and species population.
Despite the evidence supporting a need to enforce the Clean Air Act and the EPA’s authority to regulate pollutants for our environment and for our health, the House Majority has made it a priority to lower our standards for quality air and water. For example, the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act of 2011 (H.R. 2401 was recently brought to the House floor for a vote in yet another attempt to block the EPA from doing its job. This legislation would not only undermine the EPA’s authority to reduce and limit mercury emissions, but it would prevent the implementation of clean air safeguard standards to protect communities from pollutants over state lines. In addition, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2250) and Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2681) were also recently brought to the floor for a vote. These bills would delay Clean Air Act safeguards for boilers, incinerators, and cement plants even though boilers and cement plants are the second and third largest sources of dangerous mercury emissions in the nation.
I believe Congress’ focus should be on job creation instead of overturning clean air and water standards that keep our communities healthy. That is why I am pleased to inform you that I voted against these pieces of legislation. You can be sure that I will continue to support the EPA’s efforts to protect Americans from climate pollution and will oppose efforts to weaken the EPA’s authority…
I am so thrilled that a woman I voted for to represent me is actually representing me and voting the way I would vote on these bills. As you can see, Rosa shares my concerns about air pollution and weakening clean air protections.
I wrote a comment on my last post that, “A vote against the Clean Air Act is a vote against my child.” On the other hand, a vote in favor of the Clean Air Act, in favor of limiting toxics like mercury, is also a vote in favor of my child’s health and future. Rosa wants to protect children like my son Joshua from higher rates of asthma and allergies, neurological damage and fertility problems. This is the type of person I want to represent me – so my family thanks Rosa DeLaura for her commitment to clean air.
Please join the Moms Clean Air Force to protect our children’s health and future.
Photo Credit: Abbie Walston