Reaction Of Sen. Patrick Leahy
To The Senate’s 47 To 51 Vote On S.J.Res.20 (Leahy-Collins),
The Resolution To Repeal
The Bush Administration’s Controversial Mercury Pollution Rule
Tuesday, September 13, 2005

“This was a debate that powerful special interests had been able to prevent, until now.  We let some healthy sunshine into the Senate to expose a flawed rule that puts special interests over the health of the American people.  Those with the biggest stake in this are some of our most vulnerable, America’s children and pregnant women. 

“We have garnered more support than anyone thought possible just a few months ago when we began this effort.  We can do better than this rule does on a whole range of clean air and clean water enforcement issues, and because of this strong showing, now there is new hope that we will do better next time.”

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Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy
On S. J. Res. 20 (Leahy-Collins),
A Resolution To Disapprove
The Administration's Mercury Rule
Senate Floor
Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Mr. President, the simple questions each Senator must ask are --  

Do we follow the Bush Administration’s rule and take several steps backward, forcing the American people to wait at least another decade before cleaning up the toxic mercury that is spewing out of old dirty power plants across the country? 

Do we allow this new rule to let toxic mercury -- a substance so harmful that it causes birth defects, IQ loss and mental retardation – continue to poison children and pregnant women?

Do we simply ignore the proliferation of warnings that fish caught in streams and lakes and rivers are unsafe to eat?

Do we allow this rule to move forward when it has been harshly criticized by EPA’s own Inspector General?  And when the General Accountability Office has said there are “major shortcomings in the economic analysis?”

Or do we uphold the bipartisan work that produced the Clean Air Act, protect the health of pregnant women and children, and begin now to clean up the toxic mercury emissions now? 

Some of my colleagues have argued that taking swift and strong action to halt toxic mercury emissions will simply cost too much.  I challenge colleagues to tell a whole generation of women and children that their health is less important than energy company profits.  Because that is what the Administration’s mercury rules do – put profits over people. 

If we let the Administration’s rollback of mercury limits stand, what will we say to the families who live in the hotspots of today, or of tomorrow?

The Administration’s mercury rule is a danger to America’s women and children.  It is time to do it over, and to get it right.  I urge support of the resolution. 

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