Connolly says GOP environment bill will increase pollution-related deaths

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) on Monday evening said a Republican bill funding the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies would cut environmental protection and lead to billions of dollars in increased healthcare costs due to increased pollution, as well as pollution-related deaths.

"This reckless bill would impose billions of dollars, Mr. Chairman, of healthcare costs in America by increasing the incidents of asthma, emphysema, heart attacks and premature death," Connolly said on the floor. He cited a Congressional Research Service report that said the bill would result in up to $539 billion in healthcare costs.

Quoting the same report, Connolly said this would cost taxpayers $179 billion more through federal healthcare programs.

"In addition, it will cause 60,000 pre-mature deaths, 20 million lost days of work, and 36,800 additional heart attacks in America," he added.

Connolly spoke near the end of a mini-filibuster that House Democrats waged against the House bill, H.R. 2584. That effort ended at about 6 p.m., after which the House rejected a series of Democratic amendments to the bill. Details on amendment votes follow:

— Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), manager's amendment. Accepted by voice vote.

— Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), to move $18.6 million from the Bureau of Land Management to Indian Sanitation Services. Failed, 175-237.

— Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), to reduce funding by $3 billion to match to the Republican Study Committee budget request. Failed, 126-284.

— Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), to move $3 million from the Bureau of Land Management to the EPA Urban Water Initiative. Failed, 165-248.

— Rep. Cedric Richmond, (D-La.), to increase funding for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management by $5 million and cut $6 million from Bureau of Land Management. Accepted, 221-192.

— Richmond, to move $10.6 million from the Bureau of Land Management to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Rejected by voice vote.

— Rep. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), to cut $4.5 million from the Bureau of Land Management for processing drilling permit applications. Failed, 141-271.

These were the last amendments considered to the bill before legislative business ended Monday evening, although more amendments are expected to be taken up Tuesday.

—This story was updated at 7:35 p.m. to reflect updated information about amendment debate.