Federal EPA administrator Gina
McCarthy told members of a U.S. Senate committee Wednesday the agency is
seeking more than $1 billion in the next federal budget for climate change and
air quality efforts.
McCarthy said $199.5 million would
be specifically for climate change work. The administrator told members of the
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works there’s proof the atmosphere
is warming and that is having an impact on the health of Americans.
“What the science tells us is when
the temperature gets warmer it increases the level of ozone and that ozone
pollution actually has an impact on respiratory health, as well as cardiac
health,” she said.
Some of the questioning by
committee members focused on recent clean air rules aimed at reducing emissions
from coal-fired power plants. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, asked
McCarthy about coal.
“We hear about the war on coal and
you hear about that is well. Is there a war on coal?”
“Senator, I don’t think that’s fair
to say,” McCarthy answered. “What we’re trying to do is our job to protect
public health by reducing pollution from some of the largest sources.”
McCarthy’s work at EPA was
applauded by some committee members including committee chair Sen. Barbara
Boxer, D-California. She said some Republicans are opposed to everything the EPA
does.
“People are not with the
Republicans on this,” Boxer said. “Seventy-five percent of Americans say
the U.S. China
McCarthy did pledge the EPA plans to further work with utilities
and individual states on clean air issues.
