South Dakota Senator John Thune introduced the Clean Air, Strong Economies (CASE) Act, at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW). He called it a bipartisan bill that will balance economic growth and environmental progress by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to focus on the most polluted areas that are in non-attainment with its current smog standard before it can implement a lower one…

 

Thune says a similar proposal was withdrawn in 2011…

 

Thune says great progress has been made in clearing the air, but forty percent of Americans live in the two hundred twenty seven counties that have not met the standard set in 2008…

 

Thune says the “CASE ACT” would also require the EPA to consider the cost of a lower standard.