OPINION:
Members of Congress advocating a Green New Deal for America should read the Wikipedia account of the “1966 New York smog” that paved the way for enaction of a “green plan,” known officially as the Clear Air Act on Dec. 2, 1970.
Employees of the Environmental Protection Agency, which was established on that date, and so many other Americans have done and continue to do a great job of helping keep New York City and other American cities and towns smog-free and waterways clear of pollution. The current Green New Deal may be timely and suitable for other countries of the world, not us.
Those pushing for the legislation should ask EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to arrange for preparation of a written summary of steps taken by employees of EPA and others responsible for success of the “green plan” that began nearly half a century ago, and for the agency to make the summary available to leaders of countries in dire need of air and water clean-up.
Meanwhile, members of Congress should get busy doing their jobs, such as determining budget amounts for all federal departments and agencies so there will not be another government shutdown later this year. Perhaps it’s a taxing and boring job, but that’s what “We the people” are paying each of them a considerable salary to do.
THOMAS J. PIERPOINT
Lake Ridge, Virginia
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