![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Statement Of Ileana Wyerman
Environmental Protection Agency
Aging Initiative Public Listening Session
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
April 23, 2003
My name is Ilene Wyerman, and I am last. Most of the things have been said, but I think one thing that we need to emphasize, why can't legislators look at these grandfather clauses -- that is what is killing this community. Because of one grandfather clause, it does not mean it has to be forever. If it is outdated and become so harmful to us, we need to do something about changing it.
I don't need to go through the senior death discount issue anymore because I am part of that, but the reason they want to do that is that it is value of our life is less then they pay less for cutting down on the pollutants.
Heart disease, cancer, stroke - the leading causes of disease for all seniors are all aggravated by bad air. That is also true for children - many, many more children have asthma than has ever been known in our history. The new EPA plan will allow even more pollution. Our senior population is now 35 million, and that will double by the year 2030. We feel strongly that our government should not be fostering the reduction in Clean Air requirements. The financial interest of polluters is being put ahead of the health concerns of the citizens. Just picture a hospital where because you are 70 you are put in a special wing, and instead of three nurses, they only give you two. You will not get as good care. So you can you see any correlation between the hospital scenario and what the EPA is going to do with the Clean Air Act? Thank you.