Congressional Republicans Unleash Double-Barreled Attack on Health and Environment

Republicans in the House and the Senate today launched a dual attack by promoting extremist legislation that would do nothing to protect public health but instead help special interest allies gain further license to continue polluting our environment.

The House is expected to pass a cleverly-disguised bill that would prevent any new safeguards or standards from moving forward until unemployment fell to 6 percent for a quarter. That may not occur until 2017, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

"This bill is a sad attempt to block virtually all manner of health, safety, economic and environmental protections for the foreseeable future, regardless of what we learn from science or experience," said Scott Slesinger, legislative director of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "It amounts to ordering a government shutdown, and it's a kind of coup d'etat by the most recalcitrant special interests. This will do nothing to create jobs, but it will prevent the nation from addressing real problems."

In the Senate, Republicans unveiled their newest so-called energy plan a grab bag of measures that would do far more harm than good, by eliminating our most fundamental health safeguards.

"This stale package reveals just how bereft the Senate Republicans are of even one fresh idea --and we all know the definition of doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result," Slesinger said.

"It's time to stop politicking and start solving problems. A first step is to embrace the very real solutions for America's energy crisis that will be good for our health, our economy, our environment, such as focusing on clean, renewable sources of energy in ways that reduce our oil consumption and cut toxic air pollution.''