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Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2250, the so-called EPA Regulatory Relief Act. This legislation is a special interest giveaway to a few big industrial polluters that won't create jobs but will expose American families to unnecessary and unacceptable health risks.

Mr. Speaker, I want to clearly state my opposition to H.R. 2681, the so-called Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act. This legislation is a special interest giveaway that will fail to create jobs and will expose American families to unnecessary and unacceptable health risks.

Mr. Speaker, today, the Natural Resources Committee is marking up H.R. 850 which grants an exemption from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in order to allow construction of a $700 million mega-bridge connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin across the St. Croix River. This bridge would be located less than six miles from the eight lane Interstate 94 crossing of the St. Croix.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the life and memory of Ms. Judy McLaughlin, a civic and political leader in St. Paul, Minnesota who passed away on September 5, 2011 at the age of 66. Throughout her adult life Judy was an active and influential leader in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) and a force in the civic life of St. Paul.

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Thank you to the Clean Air Act Coalition for bringing us together today and to Children's Hospital for hosting us. We are here to call attention to a gathering threat to the quality of the air Americans breathe.