Volume 147, No. 39 covering the 1st Session of the 107th Congress (2001 - 2002) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“DANGERS OF ARSENIC LEVELS IN DRINKING WATER” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H1065 on March 22, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
DANGERS OF ARSENIC LEVELS IN DRINKING WATER
(Mr. HINCHEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to call to the attention of the Members of the House an issue of great public concern because it affects public health.
In 1997, this Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade standards for arsenic across the country. The standards that we have today have been in effect since 1942. They are 50 parts per billion of arsenic in drinking water. All around the world, countries have raised the standards to 10 parts per billion, because arsenic in drinking water is known to cause cancer of the bladder, the urinary tract, lung cancer, and other ailments.
The backtracking on this rule that took place earlier this week is of great concern to all of us. The Bush administration has announced that it will not follow through on reducing arsenic in drinking water. This is a threat to the health and safety of more than 31 million Americans who now drink water with elevated levels of arsenic. Most of these people live in the southwestern portion of our country.
I call upon the Bush administration and this Congress to stick by the raising of these standards for arsenic in drinking water. This is a matter of grave concern for public health and safety.
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