Kerry, &... Fight to Protect Environmental Equality in the Gulf Coast

[kerrygoddess]

Kerry, Durbin, Solis, Hastings Fight to Protect Public Health And Environmental Equality in the Gulf Coast
September 29th, 2005

Washington, DC - Today Senators John Kerry and Richard Durbin together with U.S. Representatives Hilda Solis and Alcee Hastings introduced the Public Health and Environmental Equality Act, which will protect public health, environmental and environmental justice laws during the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. The Bill would put Congress on record against gutting health and environmental protections for victims of Katrina. The GOP is currently seeking to undermine and roll back more environmental protections in the aftermath of Katrina.

Hurricane Katrina caused an unprecedented environmental and public health crisis in the Gulf Coast region. Not only did 9 major oil spills occur, but 60 underground storage tanks, 5 Superfund sites, and numerous hazardous waste facilities were hit. Over 1,000 drinking-water systems were disabled and lead and E-Coli levels in the floodwaters have far passed the EPA’s safe levels.

The Public Health and Environmental Equality Act resolves that public health and environmental laws should be protected during the time residents of the Gulf Coast need them most. Low-income and minority communities - those most negatively affected by pollution and poor environmental standards - are also those who have been hardest hit by Katrina’s wrath. Protecting these environmental laws will help those most affected communities and protect the environment from greater risk for future generations. The bill is an important signal that many in Congress will stand against the opportunistic and needless repeal of environmental and health protections in the name of rebuilding after Katrina.

“The victims of Katrina must not be victimized twice, first by a hurricane then by Washington’s assault on clean air and clean water. It’s wrong to talk one week about the poverty of the Gulf Coast then the next week rollback basic safeguards that protect children in our most needy communities from permanent health risks,” Senator Kerry said. “Every family in the Gulf Coast deserves decent public health and environmental protections, and a callous leadership in Washington should not exploit this moment by launching a shameful sneak attack on environmental justice. I am proud to work with Senator Durbin, Representatives Solis and Hastings on this important effort.”

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