SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY THE ENVIRONMENT

APRIL 16, 2004

SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY -
THE ENVIRONMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued today's "Bush Administration's Misstatement of the Day" on the environment.

Announcing the list of 474 counties nation-wide where the air does not meet the health standard for ground-level ozone, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Mike Leavitt said:

"The air is getting cleaner." (AP, 4/16/04)

In reality, the Bush Administration has issued new regulations that allow soot and smog to remain in our air for a longer time than under the former Clean Air Act requirements. According to the American Lung Association:

"In some cases, EPA's rule actually will slow the pace of clean up that existed under the old standard. EPA's rule gives most of the newly designated areas up to a decade before they must adopt clean up measures.Bottom line: A child in first grade today will graduate high school before the air pollution is cleaned up in her community."