Lower Energy Costs Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. SYKES. Mr. Chair, I rise today to put on the Record my opposition to H.R. 1, the polluters over people act, for the many unnecessary and unhelpful provisions that would jeopardize the health and well-being of Ohio's 13th Congressional District and communities across this great Nation.

I find it hard to believe that the bill designated as H.R. 1, the priority bill that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are uplifting, would increase the national deficit all while endangering our communities by creating unsafe drinking water. That is the priority, increasing the national debt and making us less safe.

Everyone here agrees that we must ensure that the Federal Government is approving domestic energy projects safely and quickly, and we can all agree that the current permitting process leaves much to be desired. However, this process should not come at the expense of the communities who simply want clean drinking water.

I have been in Congress, Mr. Chair, for about 3 months, and this is at least the second time this body has rejected clean water. All of this in the backdrop of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, just about 40 miles from my district. We know pollution knows no boundaries, particularly no congressional boundaries. Whether it is East Palestine or Portage County where I represent, I simply cannot stand silent as polluters attempt to poison our water.

Further, Mr. Chair, I have listened to accusations of activist Governors who would weaponize provisions of the Clean Water Act. For that reason, States like mine, Ohio, with a Republican Governor, Republican statewide leaders, and a Republican supermajority in the legislature should not decide how to protect the people of our State. Again, I am shocked about the total disregard of the people of Ohio simply to protect polluters.

Mr. Chair, my community elected me to find bipartisan solutions, not pollute their water or pursue partisan politics, and that is why I offered an amendment that would allow States to decide what they thought was best for their community, and particularly in a State like Ohio where there is a train derailment that has jeopardized the water quality and safety in Ohio. However, that amendment was rejected.

There is nothing partisan about wanting to make sure our children and our neighbors can drink a glass of water without worrying if chemicals like vinyl chloride are also being consumed. Time and time and time again, my colleagues are promoting and protecting polluters at the expense of our people, and I simply refuse to vote for this bill.

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