Sen. Boxer vows to make goods movement pollution a priority

Sen. Boxer vows to make goods movement pollution a priority    U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer visited the Inland Empire Wednesday, leaving only after painting a very large environmental target on the goods movement industry.
   Following the San Bernardino field hearing where she heard testimony on the health effects of diesel pollution, the California Democrat vowed to push for tighter locomotive emission standards, reduce emissions from cargo vessels calling at local ports, and tie federal highway funding to pollution reduction. She said she would make all three a 'federal priority.'
   “We can’t waste time while kids are coughing and wheezing,” Boxer said during the hearing, which she called in her capacity as chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
   Seven speakers gave impassioned testimony, each painting a grim portrait of pollution in the Inland Empire region.
   One speaker, an 11-year-old asthma sufferer who has spoken numerous times on behalf of the American Lung Association, described himself as a 'victim of air pollution' and told Boxer, 'The laws supposed to be protecting us are way too lenient.”
   Boxer offered support to the 'victims' and criticized the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming the agency has repeatedly delayed tougher standards for locomotives, ships and other sources of pollution.
   “I have suggested they change their name to the Environmental Pollution Agency,” Boxer said, repeating her oft-heard phrase.
   Boxer said she did not believe that cleaning up Southern California’s air pollution problems would hurt the economy, and any costs could be overcome by the use of cleaner technologies and the health benefits recouped from cleaner air. Boxer claimed that air pollution-related illnesses are responsible for about 1 million lost work days in Southern California each year.
   Noticeably absent at the meeting were members of the industry, who were not invited by the senator.
   “The special interest, of course, will have their say,” Boxer said.