June 1, 2007

Texas Association of Manufacturers Supports
Continued Clean Air and Water Conservation Efforts

Austin, TX -- During the 80^th Legislature, the Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM) supported several proposals to continue the state’s progress in improving Texas air quality. 

The Legislature not only maintained but expanded programs like the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) and the Low Income Vehicle Repair Assistance.  “Programs that provide low-income Texans with repair service and assistance in purchasing newer, cleaner vehicles are an innovative way to reduce mobile source emissions.” said Tony Bennett, chairman of TAM. “TAM’s principles on environmental policy call for Texas to stay the course on programs that are working.  We were encouraged to see successful programs like TERP and LIRAP maintained and expanded.”

TAM opposed proposals that would interfere with successful statewide efforts to reduce air emissions or were redundant to existing law.  “For example, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality already has the authority and is doing an outstanding job of compiling and posting an online air pollution watch list and monitoring sites.  We were concerned that SB 1924 reduced the flexibility TCEQ has to continue this progress,” he said. 

In other environmental policy, TAM actively supported the provisions in SB 3 that ensure that Texas rivers and bays have enough fresh water and provisions that created water conservation education and outreach programs.  “As innovators of water conservation efforts ourselves, manufacturers were very supportive of the water conservation programs in SB 3,” said Bennett.

Contact: Gretchen Fox, 512-694-4326