An attack on clean air

An attack on clean air

As of late, it has been appar- ent in the media that anything from public workers’ unions to health care is being titled as a “budget bleeder” and an attack on the American taxpayer and American industry. This villainization tactic goes for the Clean Air Act as well.

As David Yarnold, Audubon president and CEO stated back in February regarding the proposed Upton-Inhofe legislation: “It’s outrageous that anyone would try to make a case for dirty air. But that’s exactly what those behind the flurry of extremist attacks on one of America’s most fundamental environmental laws aim to do.” If this happens we can all look forward to the presence of more mercury, soot, carbon dioxide, sulfur and nitrogen oxides and ozone in our air, just to name a few. Sen. Inhofe is the same man who called climate change the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” We can all look forward to Rep. Upton as the new chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Clean Air Act has been in place in the United States for over 40 years, with the fundamental goal of protecting Americans from dangerous pollutants that may cause asthma, cancer and other various health problems. The EPA estimates that the Clean Air Act will have saved $2 trillion by 2020 and will have prevented at least 230,000 deaths annually. While this law has been in place, U.S. industry has still managed to grow and thrive. This clearly shows, as Yarnold said, “the Clean Air Act can protect our air and our health while also protecting our pocketbooks.” The health of American families should always trump the profitability of corporate polluters, but this “Dirty Air Act” aims to undermine that principle.

Everyone from the American Lung Association to the American Thoracic Society is speaking out against this proposed legislation. What you can do as a concerned citizen is call your members of Congress and ask them to defend the EPA’s right to assess the dangers from air quality and new pollutants.

Katie York, Youngstown

It takes work to reach peace

A majority of voters have consistently expressed the opinion in national surveys that the United States should support Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Additionally, the number who say the U.S. should support Israel has risen following the turmoil in the Middle East.

A Palestinian state must take shape with clear, mutually agreed-upon borders. Hard work and negotiations, not proclamations, end conflict.

Mary Jean Schuler, Youngstown