EPA Ozone Air Quality Standard Inadequate

Press Release

Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) released the following statement today criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to adequately lower the nations ozone air quality standard to protect human health and the environment.

"Once again the Bush Administration has chosen polluters over people and the environment in minimally lowering the ozone air quality standard. In a disturbing continual pattern, the Bush Administration chose to listen to a litany of interest groups and polluters rather than EPA scientists and public health groups who argued for even more stringent standards. Even experts at the EPA believed that the standards should be lower."

"In Colorado, we have all seen the summer ozone haze which brings increased health and air quality alerts and diminishes our mountain views. As Vice Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will not let this Administration continue to make the false choice of favoring pollution over public health and Colorado's blue skies. I will work aggressively with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that our nation and Colorado has the strongest air quality standards that will protect our public health and improve the quality of life of all Americans."

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