Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced his support for a package of commonsense legislation to strengthen environmental protections and safeguard key health and safety provisions for communities affected by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The three bills—the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act, the Focused Reduction of Effluence and Storm water runoff through Hydrofracking Environmental Regulation (FRESHER) Act, and the Bringing Reductions to Energy’s Airborne Toxic Health Effects (BREATHE) Act—were introduced earlier this year.

“Our children should be able to breathe fresh air, drink clean water, and live in a safe and healthy environment. I’m supporting these bills because they will reduce pollution, combat the harmful effects of climate change, and hold energy companies more accountable,” said Rep. Aguilar. He added, “We have a responsibility to confront these issues today so our children don’t pay the price tomorrow.”

The bills, part of the “Frack Pack,” aim to curb pollution caused by fracking. The FRAC Act would remove fracking exemptions under the Safe Water Drinking Act, and require oil companies to disclose chemicals used in fracking. The FRESHER Act would end a loophole in the Clean Water Act, and implement national standards to safeguard stream waters from chemical runoffs. The BREATHE Act would eliminate an exemption in the Clean Air Act that has allowed fracking companies to skirt toxic air pollution regulations that other industries have been required to follow for years. Rep. Aguilar is committed to supporting policies that combat climate change and improve quality of life for Inland Empire families and millions of Americans across the country.