The Nashville City Paper is reporting that Congressman Harold Ford Jr. along with Congressman Jim Cooper and Congressman Bart Gordon are sponsoring legislation in the Congress that will increase funding for EPA enforcement. Since Congressman Ford is stepping up and taking the lead on this all important issue, I have decided to detail his opponents record on the issue of environmental protection.
Let me preface the following by saying it is not pretty.
Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary: Failures On Proecting Our Environment
- "East Tennessee Republicans John J. Duncan Jr. of Knoxville, Jimmy Quillen of Kingsport, Zach Wamp of Chattanooga and Van Hilleary of Spring City voted for cutting EPA's budget by one-third." (Knoxville News-Sentinel 08/02/95)
- Bryant and Hilleary voted to cut EPA funding by 32 percent. [Morning Call. 8/2/95] (HR 2099, 07/31/95, Roll Call #607)
- Bryant and Hilleary voted to restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to protect people from exposure to arsenic, benzene, dioxin, lead or any known carcinogen: "Durbin, D-Ill., amendment to waive any provision in the bill that restricts the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to protect people from exposure to arsenic, benzene, dioxin, lead or any known carcinogen." ( Amdt to HR 2099, 07/31/1995, Roll Call #602)
- Bryant and Hilleary voted to limit the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to enforce certain anti-pollution laws: "Stokes, D-Ohio, motion to instruct the House conferees to drop the provisions in the House bill that limit the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to enforce certain anti-pollution laws." (M otion to HR 2099, 11/02/95, Roll Call #762)
- Bryant and Hilleary voted to eliminate funding by the Environmental Protection Agency for indoor air pollution research: "Kennedy, D-Mass., amendment to eliminate the bill's prohibition on funding by the Environmental Protection Agency for indoor air pollution research." ( Amdt to HR 2405, 10/12/1995, Roll Call #710)
- Bryant and Hilleary voted to funding for a program, which aimed to reduce global warming and the so-called greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide: "Lofgren, D-Calif., amendment to eliminate the bill's prohibition on funding for the Climate Change Action Plan, which is aimed at reducing global warming and the so-called greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide." (Amdt to HR 2405, 10/12/95, Roll Call #709)
- Bryant and Hilleary voted in favor of cutting funds to clean up 40 Superfund sites by 2005 (H Con Res 290, 03/24/2000, Vote #75)
- Bryant and Hilleary voted to cut the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) enforcement budget by $25 million. The cut would eliminate 270 positions from the Office of Compliance and Enforcement, resulting in 2,000 fewer inspections a year and an 11 percent reduction in criminal actions. Supporters of the cut claimed the money would be better spent in the states. However, an internal EPA study concluded that the states were doing a poor job of monitoring and punishing water polluters. And the General Accounting Office found that the EPA's plan to cut 270 enforcement jobs and shift money to the states could reduce pollution policing, even at the state level. The report concluded that the EPA could not absorb those job losses without harming its enforcement program. (Knight Ridder, 8/23/01) (AMDT to HR 2620, 07/27/01, Failed 182-214)
- Bryant and Hilleary opposed Tougher Limits on Arsenic in Drinking Water. Voted to delay implementation of a new rule to slash the allowable arsenic level in drinking water to one-fifth of what it is today. The new arsenic standard would lower the permissible level of arsenic in drinking water from the current 50 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion. Arsenic, which occurs naturally in water supplies, can cause lung, bladder and skin cancer and has been linked to kidney and liver cancer. The standard of 50 parts per billion has been in effect since 1942. In 1999, the National Academy of Sciences, a scientific research center, concluded that that level was too high and recommended lowering it "as promptly as possible." (Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 7/28/01) (AMDT to HR 2620, 07/27/01, Passed 218-189)
Ed and Van are not alone in their failure to protect our nation's enviroment. As Mayor of Chattanooga, Bob Corker also seemed to forget about the environment.
Bob Corker: No Lavish Spending On Evironmental Protection
- In 2004 the State Department of Environment and Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency inspected Chattanooga's water quality. It was determined that Mayor Corker and his city administration were not in compliance with water quality standards and the city was ordered to clean up major pollution discharge and stormwater flooding problems that were plaguing city residents. (1)
- EPA ranked 14 Chattanooga neighborhoods as the highest in the country for toxic air emissions [EPA, 2005 report]
- A study found Chattanooga to have reached "non-attainment" status because of unhealthy ozone and particle matter. [EPA, 09/05]
- Chattanooga was listed among the TOP 10 worst mid-sized cities for aspects of air pollution. [AP/EPA Study, 2004]
This is yet another issue on which the difference between Harold Ford Jr. and his Republican foes couldn't be greater.
The Republicans like to think they are the party of moral values. However, they seem to forget that being good stewards of God's creations is a moral value.
Tennesseeans love their nature and environment and want a U.S. Senator who will have the courage to stand up and protect it.
Congressman Ford is up to job. His opponents...not so much.
90 Days
Days of Congressional Inaction on Ethics
Above is the number of days that have passed since Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to bribing Congressman.
It is also the number of days in which Congress has failed to pass an ethics reform bill that would limit private travel, ski and golf junkets, and would call for a full disclosure of expenses by lobbyists on members of Congress.
It is time for Congress to step up and pass an ethics reform bill that would do all of the above. In addition, it is time to end the pork barrel spending system as we know it and establish an independent ethics commission that would review ethics complaints against members of Congress.
I am proud Congressman Harold Ford Jr. is fighting for that reform!
Read Congressman Ford's call for reform of the House rules here!
