CLEAN AIR

In Washington, I have been an active supporter of a number of bills and other efforts to protect and enhance our environment.  Over the past few years I have joined a bipartisan effort to reduce harmful air emissions through increased funding for diesel emissions reduction grants.  Recently, I requested the inclusion of $50.0 million in the Fiscal Year 2008 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant Program to provide necessary assistance to reduce the negative effects of existing diesel engines.  The funds made available through this program are estimated to leverage a significant level of additional funding assistance as well as achieve an estimated $1.5 billion in health benefits.

 

During my past service as Chairman of the House Science Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, I advocated for new national standards on ultra low sulfur diesel.  Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began implementing stringent new standards for diesel fuel and new diesel engines and as of June 1, 2006, refiners were required to begin producing clean ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel for use in highway diesel engines.  The production of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel enables modern pollution-control technology to be effective on heavy-duty trucks and buses. Beginning with the 2007 model year, the harmful pollution from heavy-duty highway vehicles will be reduced by more than 90 percent. According to the EPA, once this action is fully implemented:

 

• 2.6 million tons of smog-causing nitrogen oxide emissions will be reduced each year.
• Soot or particulate matter will be reduced by 110,000 tons a year.
• An estimated 8,300 premature deaths, 5,500 cases of chronic bronchitis and 17,600 cases of acute bronchitis in children will be prevented annually.
• An estimated 360,000 asthma attacks and 386,000 cases of respiratory symptoms in asthmatic children will also be avoided every year.
• 1.5 million lost work days, 7,100 hospital visits and 2,400 emergency room visits for asthma will be prevented.