John Kerry's stance on the Clean Air Act

Clean Air Act/Clean Skies Act of 2003: The 2003 act established federally enforceable emissions limits or caps for three pollutants, which include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury. It maintains the authority of the state and local governments set source emission level so a standard air quality can be met. The act mandates a cut of 70 percent air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years; the Clean Skies Act builds off of the Clean Air Act.

John Kerry

Description of Candidates Position: Kerry wants to set new standards for environmental excellence in the United States. He believes that as a nation, we need to value and protect the environment and defend our environmental rights. Kerry wants to reverse the Bush-Cheney actions taken towards the environment. He wants to take action to plug the loopholes in the Clean Air Act, to stop acid rain, wants to reduce mercury and other emissions that affect global warming, as according to the Kerry website.

Direct Quotation: "I voted for an amendment to delay the new source review rule change pending the study of its effects on human health and pollution levels." 108th Congress, 1/22/03

Assessment of Proposal

Positive: Kerry has the support of the Sierra Club, the biggest and most influential environmental group in the United States. Kerry has been an environmental leader since the 1970's. He organized one of the first Earth Days in Massachusetts. He plans to close the loopholes created by the current administration and wants to reduce levels of carbon dioxide as well as other pollutants.

Negative: NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED

Comparison: Bush has dismantled the Clean Air Act by allowing 17,000 coal fired power plants and other factories to avoid reducing their emissions levels. Also Bush has avoided reducing emission levels for power plants and other factories to 2018. Kerry wants to stop the loopholes in which Bush allows this to happen and wants to fight pollutants levels including carbon dioxide.

Link to Bush's Clean Skies brief