WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 8, 2011) – Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee and senior member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement commending the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for submitting to the White House Office of Budget Management (OMB) its mercury and toxics rule for emissions from power plants and the Greenhouse Gas New Source Performance Standard for Electric Utility Steam Generating Units.    
 
“Amidst misguided attempts by Republicans to pass laws that would make our air dirtier, today’s new pollution standards from the EPA mean Americans can breathe easier. Strong greenhouse gas and toxics rules are needed to help reduce the amount of pollution spewing from smokestacks and the carbon pollution warming our planet. Strong measures that keep our air clean mean Americans won’t have the false choice between cancer and clean air, between manufacturing and mercury, between prosperity and pollution. I commend the EPA for moving forward with new standards in this area, and I urge OMB to act quickly to put these proposed rules out for public comment.”

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