Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today announced that she will convene two important Environment Committee field hearings in California during the August congressional recess.
On Thursday, August 9, at 10:00am PDT at the Port of Los Angeles Administrative Building in San Pedro, Senator Boxer will hold a hearing on air pollution at ports, focusing on the pollution emitted by large marine engines. In May, Senator Boxer introduced "The Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act of 2007" to cut ship emissions that contribute to dangerous smog and soot pollution around America's ports. Emissions from ships are among the major causes of persistent air quality problems for ports, including the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and the communities near or downwind from ports.
Senator Boxer said: "It is long past time to tighten controls on pollution from ships in our harbors. For too long, people who live near our busiest shipping facilities have paid a price with their families' health. This hearing will help focus attention on the critical need to reduce air pollution in our ports."
On Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 11:00am PDT at the Santa Clara County County Building in San Jose, Senator Boxer will hear from business leaders on the subject of global warming and job-creation in environmentally sustainable industries. California leads the nation in clean technology investments, and “green" industries are projected to create as many as 75,000 jobs statewide by 2010.
Senator Boxer said: “California is a leader in green-technology investments, and the high-tech sector is at the leading edge of that wave. Some of the most innovative green-tech companies are based in Silicon Valley, so San Jose is the natural location for a hearing on the jobs that will be created as we begin to reduce global warming pollution. By acting now to fight global warming, I am confident we will continue to strengthen our economy, create jobs and set an example to the nation and the world."
