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Sen. Jeffords' March 10 EPW Hearing Statement Quotes Luntz Survey
Copyright 2004 The Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service
March 10, 2004 Wednesday
SECTION: PREPARED TESTIMONY
HEADLINE: PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR JIM JEFFORDS BEFORE THE SENATE
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT - PRESIDENT'S FY 2005 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Administrator Leavitt, it is a pleasure to welcome you here today. We have known
each other for many years, and I have great respect for your abilities and
believe that working together we can make great strides in environmental
protection. When I chaired this Committee two years ago the President proposed a
3% cut in spending at the EPA. Last year, the President proposed a 6% cut, and
this year the President is proposing a 7.2% cut from enacted levels. This is a
most disturbing trend, and one that I am committed to working against. This
year, even the Chairman of the Budget Committee could not abide by the
President's proposed EPA budget cuts. Today the Senate is voting on a Republican
budget that would increase, not decrease, spending at the EPA over last year's
levels. Though, of course, it remains to be seen whether the appropriators will
feel as generous.
This budget is essentially fiat and lifeless. It fails to recognize the
tremendous public health and environmental challenges that we face now, and that
we will leave for our children. It is true that we have made great strides in
reducing emissions of harmful pollutants. But, we have a long way to go to
protect the public's health and clean up the environment. According to the EPA,
more than 20,000 people are dying prematurely from fine particulate matter
coming out of power plant stacks.
That's happening right now, not 20 years from now. Four-and-one-half million
pounds of toxic air pollutants that cause birth defects, cancer, mutation and
developmental effects are being spewed into the air every year. Acid rain
continues to devastate ecosystems in the Northeast and now the Southeast.
Respected scientific bodies say that global warming is occurring, at least in
part because of manmade emissions. And next year, according to the President's
budget, approximately 175 million people will live in areas with unhealthy air.
This is simply unacceptable in an advanced country like ours. In the clean water
arena, the Administration's budget completely fails to recognize the staggering
water resource needs of this nation.
The recent poll by Republican pollster Frank Luntz that I am holding in my hand
shows that 91% of Americans are concerned that our waterways will not be clean
for our children and grandchildren. Time after time Americans express their
outrage at the weakening of clean and safe water protections and express their
willingness to pay to maintain water quality standards. In the 2005 budget, the
Administration is proposing to cut nearly IN HALF the funds available for clean
water infrastructure investments, from $1.35 billion to $850 million. This is
truly astonishing. In the last five years, an extremely broad consensus has
emerged that more money is needed for water infrastructure. I will not accept
promises of funding in out-years.