{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/11/carper-alexander-in-usa-today-the-mercury-rule-has-protected-americans-from-dangerous-pollution", "Carper, Alexander in USA Today: The Mercury Rule Has Protected Americans from Dangerous Pollution", "2019-11-12", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Thomas Carper", "C000174", "www.carper.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As former governors, we know that cleaner air means better health, a better economyand better jobs for the residents of our states.\r\nToday, thanks to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, children and families are breathing cleaner air and our waters and streams are less polluted. The mercury rule, which limits mercury emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants, has resulted in90%less mercuryin the air than a decade ago. But now, the Environmental Protection Agencyis moving forward with a proposal that asserts it is no longer appropriate and necessary to protect the public from our country's largest sources of mercury and air toxic emissions.\r\nStates once warnedagainst eating fish\r\nThis move could lead to the undoing of the mercury rule, which is why we're urging EPA not to go through with it.\r\nBefore the rulewas proposed, half the man-made mercury in Americacame from coal-fired power plants, and as much as70%of the mercury pollutionin our waterways came from those nearby coal plants. At that time, the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee was one of themost polluted national parksin America, and Delawarewarned the public against eating fishdue to high levels of mercury.\r\nIn fact, by the time the mercury rule wasfinalizedin 2012,every state including Tennessee and Delaware  had some type of fish consumption advisory for mercury. Add up all the advisories and, nationally, there were more fish consumption advisories for mercury than all other pollutants combined.\r\nNow, the11 million peoplewho visit the Smokies every year can seemore than 90 milesfrom Clingman's Dome, the park's highest peak, on the clearest days. Even on the haziest days, visibility has improved tomore than 30 miles.\r\nThe millions of people who enjoy Delaware's five-star beaches and the rivers, streams and ponds throughout the state can also enjoy seafood without fearing high levels of mercury in their meal. In fact, across the country, there have been fewer warnings that say, \"Don't eat the fish because of mercury contamination.\"\r\nMercury rule has protected Americans\r\nClean air also means our states are open for business. Eight years ago, every one of Tennessee'smajor metropolitan areaswas struggling to meet clean air standards, which made it difficult for new companies to get permits to build in the state or for existing industries to expand.\r\nAt the end of America's tailpipe, downwind states like Delaware are still struggling to protect communities from pollution. Harmful emissions from upwind states account for nearly94%of air pollutionin the First State, so Delaware truly does rely on commonsense safeguards like the mercury rule to meet its own clean air standards.\r\nToday, every utility in the country hasfully compliedwith the mercury rule. Changing the rule after billions of dollars have already been spent means that utilities will have less certainty about federal regulations, and it will be more difficult to maintain steady electricity prices for American families in the future.\r\nThe gains we have made over the past decade to protect children and families from dangerous mercury pollution should not be lost. The mercury rule has been a success, and changing it just doesn't make sense.\r\nSen.Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.,is chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del.,is the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Follow them on Twitter:@SenAlexanderand@SenatorCarper\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/11/carper-alexander-in-usa-today-the-mercury-rule-has-protected-americans-from-dangerous-pollution"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2052999809384346, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}