美國環保署長強森（Stephen Johnson）於6日駁斥外界聲稱環保署放鬆環境管制措施，以及視企業利益為優先，而並非公眾的利益。
強森在聽證會上告訴美國參議院環境暨公共工程委員會，布希政府正在「加快環保的步調」，但他的言論未能滿足民主黨員。民主黨員稱環保署近來的決議已破壞了保護公眾健康及環境保護的相關法規。
擔任主席的加州民主黨員鮑克瑟（Barbara Boxer）表示，「環保署這些走回頭路的做法有一個共同的目的，他們終究只為圖利污染製造者，允許他們製造更多的污染，並且阻礙公眾獲得污染資訊，這些作法危及了我們的社會。」
鮑克瑟並表示，環保署已「長時間未能執行有效的監督，我想給環保署與政府當局一個清楚的訊息，環保署若再走回頭路，將不再能悄悄地避開監督機制。」
這場聽證會重點在環保署2006年所通過的6項特別決議，其中並包括一項新的條例：放鬆公司提報關於排放有毒化學物質到環境中的相關必要規定；以及一項決議：限制環保署科學家在制定空氣污染標準值的角色；以及一個具有爭議性的計劃，即關閉數個環保署的圖書館。
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson rejected allegations Tuesday that his agency has relaxed environmental safeguards and favored corporate interests over those of the public.
Johnson told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that the Bush administration is "accelerating the pace of environmental protection," but his comments did little to satisfy Democrats who contend recent EPA decisions have undermined regulations that protect public health and the environment.
"These EPA rollbacks have common themes," said committee Chair Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat. "They benefit polluters' bottom line and hurt our communities by allowing more pollution and reducing the amount of information about pollution available to the public."
Boxer said EPA has gone "too long without meaningful oversight."
I want to send a clear signal to EPA and to this administration," Boxer warned. "No longer will EPA rollbacks quietly escape scrutiny."
The hearing focused on six specific decisions made by the agency last year, including a new rule that relaxes the reporting requirements for companies who release toxic chemicals into the environment, a decision to limit the role of agency scientists in setting air pollution standards, and a controversial plan to close several EPA libraries.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
