Final answer:
The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act are the two congressional acts that have considerably reduced factory pollution. Enforced by the EPA, these laws have improved air and water quality, although further combined efforts of regulatory and market-based measures are suggested for better results. Option a and d are the correct answers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two congressional acts that helped to reduce factory pollution are the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. The Clean Air Act was enacted in 1970 to address the issue of air pollution and to ensure cleaner, healthier air for Americans. Shortly afterwards, in 1972, the Clean Water Act was passed with the aim to regulate the discharge of pollutants into the water and to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. Together, these command-and-control environmental laws represent critical components in the effort to protect and improve the environment in the United States.
These laws were enforced by the newly established Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was created to oversee all environmental laws and ensure their effective implementation. Amendments and updates to these acts have continued to contribute significantly to reduced pollution levels from factories and other sources. They reflect a commitment to environmental health that precedes the modern sustainability movement.
While these laws have had a substantial impact on improving air and water quality, economists have identified difficulties with command-and-control environmental regulation, suggesting that a combination of regulatory and market-based strategies might be necessary to address complex environmental challenges more effectively.