Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today made the following remarks regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's announcement that they will not set a standard for perchlorate, a toxic component of rocket fuel that contaminates drinking water supplies in many states including California. EPA is postponing its decision pending additional studies by the National Academy of Sciences.

Senator Boxer said: "EPA's decision to delay setting a drinking water standard for perchlorate is immoral. Perchlorate is a toxin that is especially dangerous for pregnant women and children. This is one of many midnight decisions by the Bush Administration that I will raise with the new designee for EPA Administrator at her confirmation hearing next week."

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