Press release and Katrina Section
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
September 29, 2005
David Wade (Kerry), 202-224-4159
Nadeam Elshami (Durbin), 202-228-5643
David Goldenberg (Hastings), 202-225-1313
Don Lyster (Solis), 202-225-9971
Kerry, Durbin, Solis, Hastings Fight to Protect Public
Health And Environmental Equality in the Gulf Coast
Bill would put Congress on record against gutting health and environmental
protections for victims of Katrina
Washington, DC – Today Senators John Kerry (D – Mass.)
and Richard Durbin (D – Ill.) together with U.S. Representatives Hilda
Solis (D – Calif.) and Alcee Hastings (D – Fla.) 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.
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.”
Senator Durbin added, “This issue is about ensuring that
the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita are not victimized again.
For the well-being of all Gulf Coast residents, we must ensure that public
health is protected and that environmental compliance remains a priority.”
“I believe that as responsible policymakers we should be
pushing for greater protections for the poor, the elderly, children, minorities
and other under-served communities - not selling off their health to the highest
corporate bidder,” Representative Solis said. “These communities
are the most likely to become sick and suffer because of dirty air and water,
the most likely to live in closer proximity to refineries, toxic dumps and
hazardous waste sites, and the least likely to be able to protect themselves.
Hurricane Katrina showed the vulnerabilities of our nation's infrastructure
and safety net. As we rebuild the Gulf Coast and plan for our nation's future,
we should remember the suffering of Katrina and do more - not less - to protect
public health and the environment.”
Representative Alcee Hastings said, “When you look at the
areas that were and still are flooded in New Orleans, we know who lives there,
we know what they look like, and we know their income bracket. What good are
we doing in sending people home to drink water that isn't potable, walk on
soil that is contaminated, and breath air that downright toxic. The first
inclination is obviously to get people back in their homes. But that inclination
alone is not enough to give the Bush Administration carte blanche authority
to waive every critical environmental regulation on the books. ”
The Public Health and Environmental Equality Act resolves that: