WASHINGTON, D.C.--Sixth District Congressman Frank Lucas was shocked to hear President Clinton's announcement yesterday to embrace the proposed new federal regulations on fine dust and smog in the air.

"I absolutely cannot believe President Clinton would go ahead with the promotion of standards that are suspect both in the science used and in their economic impact on the country,"Lucas said. "The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should at least shelve the new standards for further scientific and economic investigation if not abolish them altogether."

The new standards are part of a proposal that attempts to rid the air of tiny, microscopic particles the EPA claims make the outdoors hazardous to our health. The sources of these minuscule particles -- referred to as "particulate matter" (so small that 28 of them would fit on the width of a strand of hair) -- reportedly include everything ranging from power plants, to farms, to residential fireplaces, to family barbecues, to power lawn mowers, to cow manure.

"Fifty-one Members of Congress, including myself, concerned about the effects these standards would have on agriculture and small business, wrote EPA Administrator Carol Browner urging that further scientific inquiry be allowed before promulgating this rule," Lucas said. "The President's decision to ignore this request also rebuked the same pleas from the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, and many within the President's own inner circle of advisers."

"Those entities as well as many Members of Congress predict these new standards will lead to significant layoffs," Lucas continued. "I am extremely disappointed that the President did not heed very real criticisms of standards based on politics and not good science. Additionally, I do not believe that the EPA ever adequately consulted with the agriculture scientists on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Air Quality Task Force."

"I will do everything I possibly can as a Member of Congress and as a member of the House Agriculture Committee to continue to wage a battle against the promulgation of this economically devastating rule," Lucas said. "With very little noticeable health benefits, I believe the cost burdens for agriculture, industry, and small businesses will be tremendous."