Under Pruitt, the EPA is ignoring ‘protection’

The Republicans’ war on our environment must be incredibly profitable for them, as they seem to be waging it relentlessly in many states and especially at the federal level.

Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, appears to have completely missed the “protection” element of the agency as he pursues his reckless destruction of environmental safeguards that have enabled the citizens of our country to enjoy a decent, if not ideal, scale of purity of our air and water.

His most recent gambit is an attempt to roll back the mileage requirements imposed on vehicle manufacturers. He prefers the ax to the scalpel, and a very blunt ax at that. If you have witnessed any photographs of smog in Chinese cities and wondered how the people there survive, you may have to find out how they do it if Mr. Pruitt is successful. He has allowed coal miners to befoul our streams with mine waste, he proposes loosening restrictions on gas well leaks and methane contamination, and he has been the spokesperson for the pollution industry for most of his political career.

Even our legislators are getting the war on the environment bug. They passed a House committee bill recently that would revert standards for Pennsylvania’s conventional drilling industry, which, according to the Department of Environmental Protection, “would cause great harm to the environment and the public.” The president of an industry association stated, “This bill will let our industry continue to grow and thrive” — apparently at the expense of the health and well-being of our citizens and our environment. DAVID L. REESE

New Castle

We welcome your opinion

I agree with Laura Power’s April 23 letter, “H.R. 620 Could Erode the Landmark Americans with Disabilities Act.”

And kudos to advocates who testified to city council recently regarding many inaccessible establishments (April 20, “Pittsburgh Still Falls Short on Accessibility for Those With Disabilities, Advocates Say”). Advocates, keep your voices loud and clear to city council and to the U.S. Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal civil rights law that passed 28 years ago, prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in public accommodations, public transportation, telecommunications, employment and government services.

The ADA was passed to give people with disabilities access to restaurants, medical offices, businesses and theaters, for example. Access to these and other public places is granted every day and grows community and strengthens independence.

The ADA Education Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620), which recently passed the U.S. House, places the burden on the person with the disability to prove that a business is inaccessible. This legislation is a classic example of “justice delayed being justice denied” as businesses can take months to even begin accessibility measures. The great democratic experiment known as the United States has first and foremost been about rights before restrictions.

People with disabilities deserve the equal opportunity to fully participate in our shared society. The civil rights legislation of the ADA must remain intact. Steps in front of a building are equivalent to the “whites only” signs at drinking fountains.

Instead of efforts that seek to lessen civil rights legislation, we must continue to expand rights for all Americans. BILL McDOWELL

North Side

Residents of Butler County and members of the GOP should be ashamed to have a representative like Daryl Metcalfe in the state Legislature. He not only is holding up H.R. 722 and S.B. 22 (gerrymandering reform), but he also has made bigoted remarks that are unacceptable.

The man should resign and/ or not run for re-election the next time around. He is an embarrassment to all humankind! M.T. SNYDER

Hatboro, Pa.