Waxman: Republicans Will Deform Your Baby

By Pete Kasperowicz, The Hill

House Democrats on Thursday evening warned that Republican attempts to rein in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations would lead directly to adverse health effects across America.

Members were debating H.R. 2401, which would create a commission to weight the impact of recent EPA rules and delay pending rules on mercury and air pollution. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said delaying these two pending rules in particular would lead to immediate adverse health consequences.

"Each year these rules will prevent tens of thousands of premature deaths, tens of thousands of heart attacks, and hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks," he said on the House floor. "It will also prevent almost two million lost work days.

"If this legislation is enacted, these public health benefits will be lost, and more babies will be born with birth defects and learning disabilities," he added.