BlueGreen Alliance Says Congress Must Get to Work on Job-Creating Strategies

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 23, 2011) After the House of Representatives today voted to pass the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation — or TRAIN Act — the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director David Foster:

“Today, the House passed legislation-the TRAIN Act-that will do nothing to create good jobs in America, and instead would throw our country in reverse. While millions of Americans are searching for work, House Republicans are spending their time trying to restrict the Environmental Protection Agency’s obligation to protect the American people from harmful pollutants.

“Forty years after the Clean Air Act was passed, it is clear that we can have both good jobs and a clean, safe environment. Most importantly, to be competitive in the 21st century global economy, the U.S. must be more efficient and make products that meet the highest environmental standards.

“Gutting the EPA is tantamount to abandoning the standards of excellence for which American engineering and manufacturing have long been known. It would cede the playing field for leadership in fuel efficient vehicles, clean energy technologies, and a host of other 21st century industries to our competitors.

“Instead, Congress should focus on putting America back to work through a combination of smart policies and strategic investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, modern transportation, broadband, smart grid, recycling, sustainable chemistry, and a 21st Century infrastructure.”