REMARKS OF HONORABLE JOHN E. FOGARTY, M.C. 2ND DISTRICT, R. I. AT
ATR POLLUTION CONTROL ASSOCIATION DINNER ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER: 22, 1958
AT THE CROWN HOTEL.

At this gathering tonight--held in recognition of National Cleaner
Air Week, which the President has proclaimed--interest naturally focuses on
the air pollution problems of our New England cities and towms. As a citizen
of this region and of the State of Rhode Island, I share your concern with
the problem as it affects our commmities. I am disturbed, as are you, lest
air pollution here reach into our homes, our offices, our industries, with
its corroding fingers, shedding its pall of economic and civic blight. I am
greatly disturbed over increasing reports of the harmful effects of air-pollu-
tion on human health -- effects whose extent is not yet fully known, but which
are now suspected even of being a factor in causing cancer.

The problem is not a local one. It is nation-wide. And with our
constantly increasing industrialization, transportation and urbanization, the
problem of air-pollution will inevitably become more severe.

As a representative of this State in the Congress of the United States
for the past 18 years, and as chairman of the subcommittee concerned with ap-_
propriations for the Departments of Labor and of Health, Education, and Welfare
for the past _§ years, I have worked for a nation-wide attack on this problem.
This year the Congress appropriated $3,860,000 for air pollution control. And
as you know, there is to be a National Conference on Air Pollution in Washington
next month. It is hoped that a unified 10-year plan of action will result.

Yet I nine not been willing to wait for action until a 10-year plan is
developed. I have constantly urged the Public Health Service in the Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare that they push ahead as fast as possible under
the Federal Air Pollution Act of 1955 to stem this rising tide of pollution of

the atmosphere, pollution which is both an economic and a health hazard.
-2e

I know that they have been making good progress, especially in measur-
ing and identifying the various things--particles, chemicals, and so On--
which contaminate our air. There is now @ collaborative nation-wide network
of air sampling stations with equipment provided by the Federal Government,
but operated by local authorities. We have two such stations here in the
city of Providence. Samples collected at these stations are studied and ana-
lyzed, to find just what and how mach harmful ingredients the air contains.

On the basis of such findings, action to remove the most dangerous and most’
numerous air contaminants can be taken by the communities.

Some 80% of the funds appropriated by the Congress for air pollution
control this year is going into research on the many and complex aspects of
the problem. Some is being used for technical consultation with State and
commnity authorities on their particular problems. We have had such con-
sultations with national authorities on the subject here in our State of Rhode
Island, and I am sure similar consultations have been held in the other New
England States. In addition, training activities are under way to increase
the number and competence of personnel in the field of commnity air pollution.

I think a good beginning has been made, nationally and locally, on
this problem. I think we are moving ahead, and I em sure thet with the sup-
port and interest of groups such as are represented here tonight, and of
organizations such as this New England Section of the Air Pollution Control
Association, we shall make even greater progress in the future. I can assure
you that I, for my part, will not cease my efforts to protect the air that we
and our children breathe and to see that it is freed of the pollution that now

makes it a source of domestic worry, economic loss and health impairment.