Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012

Floor Speech

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Ms. RICHARDSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me to speak on the Richardson amendment.

This amendment adds an additional $5 million to the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act--also known as DERA grants--by cutting $10 million from the EPA Buildings and Facilities account. The Richardson amendment is about creating jobs, saving lives, and improving our Nation's air quality.

Mr. Chairman, in the last Congress I introduced legislation that extended DERA for 5 years. The DERA legislation received large bipartisan support and was later signed into law by President Obama. DERA is supported by a coalition of over 500 leading transportation, environmental, and health organizations.

I represent a region that's home to the largest port complex in the Nation and consists of some of the busiest freeways and railways in our country. However, the area also suffers from poor air quality, which has led to much higher rates of asthma and cancer than any other area in the Nation. DERA improves our air quality by reducing the CO

2 emissions by up to 35,600 tons per year. It has been estimated that nearly 2,000 lives will be saved over the next 5 years through DERA by increased air quality.

Unfortunately, the bill before us today reduces the funding for DERA grants by $19.9 million, which is well below the fiscal year 2011 levels. The EPA estimates that the DERA program averages more than $13 in health and economic benefits for every $1 we authorize in funding. The EPA also estimates that DERA saves more than 3.2 million gallons of fuel annually, which means that truckers and other diesel operators will spend $8 million less on fuel. Mr. Chairman, that's less dependency on foreign oil.

In these tight economic times, it makes sense that we invest in programs that work and are cost effective. The CBO score on the Richardson amendment showed that it will decrease the budget authority by $5 million without creating any new budget outlays. Simply put, the Richardson amendment saves money.

Since DERA funding began in 2007, more than 3,000 projects nationwide have benefited from this program. In fact, there have been nine projects in the Los Angeles County area, where I reside, alone.

Mr. Chairman, DERA projects have created jobs and improved air quality in my district and across the country. The Richardson amendment saves lives, saves money, and creates jobs, which is certainly what we need and we should be talking about more in these dark hours.

I urge my colleagues to support the Richardson amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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