Answer: The first step in creating a new law -- or revising an existing law -- is to have an idea of how we can make our country stronger or better. This idea can come from anywhere, including from you!
I often meet with Delawareans and Americans who see a problem and come to me to find a way that we can fix it. I had long been concerned that dirty air emitted from a variety of sources posed serious public health and environmental threats. This problem was particularly relevant in Delaware which, along with other mid-Atlantic states, is part of America’s so-called ‘tail pipe’ that receives a lot of other states’ dirty air. In 2004, my staff and I, working with other stakeholders, seized on a possible solution to address some key sources of dirty air emissions. We recognized that many trucks and other large vehicles, including school buses, were using old, dirty diesel engines, which polluted our environment and harmed the health of our families. I decided that this was a problem that should, and could, be fixed, so I began working with my fellow Senators, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and private citizens to find a solution.