Washington, DC - U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (IL-18), who serves on the House Science, Space and Technology committee, questioned witnesses today regarding the EPA's decision to lower ozone standards. His statement reads below:
"With the EPA’s most recent decision to lower ozone standards and implement more stringent requirements, I find it to be a direct threat to the potential progress of companies and manufacturers across the United States, specifically to those based in Illinois’ 18th district. Companies such as Caterpillar, ADM, and John Deere, whom played a role in effectively reducing ozone levels and improving air quality, would now face further regulations which would affect job growth and economy growth, seeing as they would be further pressed to compete with global competitors.
U.S. air quality has been sited to be the best it has been in the past 100 years, with ozone levels decreased 33-percent since 1980 and down 9-percent since 2008. This is due to efforts to meet current standards and the proactive efforts by manufacturers to improve air quality and production. Further regulations would only hinder economic growth in an economy still working to recover and prosper."
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