The U.S. House is expected to vote on an appropriations bill this weekend that would block the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) from enforcing laws that protect public health by limiting mercury, ozone soot and global warming pollution.

Below is a statement by Rachel Cleetus, Union of Concerned Scientists senior economist.

“Under the guise of cutting government spending, some lawmakers are making fiscally irresponsible and short-sighted decisions. The fact is EPA regulations have a long history of protecting public health. For example, the Clean Air Act has a 40-year track record of cutting dangerous pollution, and in 2010 alone helped prevent an estimated 160,000 premature deaths and 1.7 million asthma attacks.

“In addition, the Clean Air Act has yielded financial benefits from the avoided health costs. On August 2, the net benefits of the Clean Air Act are projected to reach a staggering $50 trillion.”

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Below is a statement by Liz Perera, a Union of Concerned Scientists public health expert.

“Amendments tacked onto this spending bill would essentially give power plants and other emitters free reign to release harmful pollutants into the air without heed to public health. Mercury is known to cause severe damage to fetal and infant brain development, ultimately affecting a child’s ability to walk, talk and learn. Ozone pollution, a major problem during hot summers, can worsen asthma and other breathing problems.

“These air quality laws were put in place by Congress for a reason. But certain members want to take us back to early 19th century England when industrial emissions were so thick they coated buildings, not to mention people’s lungs.

“This isn’t the first time the House has voted on a proposal to block the EPA from regulating global warming pollution and it won’t be the last. These votes are about politics, not science.”