Mr. Chairman, the President has called for a comprehensive energy policy and I agree that we need to do more. But a comprehensive energy policy should not come at the expense of protecting human health and the environment. While we have made great strides in cleaning our nation's air since the enactment of the Clean Air Act thirty years ago, there is more that needs to be done.
In my state of New Jersey, for example, 6 of our cities and counties rank among the worst in air quality in the nation, due to problems from high-levels of ground ozone, also known as smog, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These high levels of ozone have caused significant respiratory problems in our population, especially among our most vulnerable: the youngest, the oldest and the infirm
I understand that much of the smog that hangs over New Jersey is produced by the people who live there and the cars that they drive. New Jersey can and should take steps to deal with pollution caused by its auto emissions. But a large amount of the smog and other air pollutants which we face comes from other regions of the country. In fact, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection estimates that as much as one-third of our air pollution -including smog - either comes from or is caused by pollutants from another state.
What this says to me is that we simply need to do more to reduce the levels of air pollutants on a comprehensive basis. That's why I became a co-sponsor of the Clean Power Act, sponsored by Senators Jeffords and Lieberman. This is an important bill because it marks the beginning of a debate as to how much further we should reduce already regulated pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
This bill is also important because it regulates carbon dioxide. I was disappointed when the Bush Administration reversed itself last week on the question of whether carbon dioxide should be regulated. There is little doubt now that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes global warming. It is time we take steps to reduce its levels.
Again, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for holding this hearing. I look forward to working with you as the subcommittee considers these and related issues.