Congresswoman Adams Statement on House Passage of H.R. 1734, Republican Coal Ash Bill

Press Release

The U.S. House today passed H.R. 1734, Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (NC-12) introduced an amendment to H.R. 1734 that would have required regular water-well testing as well as the creation of a public website containing up-to-date water quality information. The amendment also required the owner or operator of coal ash ponds to provide access to another source of drinking water within 24 hours, if water is found to be contaminated. Congresswoman Adams' amendment received bipartisan support, but was not adopted into the final House bill with a party line vote of 192 to 230.

Congresswoman Adams also co-sponsored an amendment along with Representatives G.K. Butterfield (NC-1), Bobby Rush (IL-1), Yvette Clarke (NY-9) and David Price (NC-4) that would have given the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator authority to prevent H.R. 1734 from going into effect if it was determined to negatively impact children, pregnant women, the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions and others considered to be part of vulnerable population groups. This amendment was not adopted into the final House bill.

Congresswoman Adams' statement on House passage of H.R. 1734 is below:

"I'm extremely disappointed that the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1734 -- a bill to weaken current coal ash rules put in place by the EPA. I am even more disappointed that this legislation passed without serious protections to keep our communities safe from coal ash contaminated drinking water. I am hopeful that this destructive legislation will be prevented from becoming law; our communities deserve to be protected from toxic coal ash."

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