Washington, D.C. - Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement in response to the Senate's 46-53 rejection of a proposal to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing clean air standards for lead, arsenic and other toxics.

Senator Boxer said: "I am very pleased that the Senate stood strong for protecting the health of our children and families by defeating a proposal that would have prevented the EPA from implementing landmark clean air protections. The utility CRA would have allowed polluters to release more toxic, poisonous emissions into our air, leading to premature deaths, heart attacks and asthma. Today's vote was a win for public health, and I will continue to fight any effort to weaken the Clean Air Act."

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