Press Releases
Dingell: Since the Rouge River Fire We’ve Come a Long Way, But We Can’t Turn the Needle Back
Washington,
October 9, 2019
DEARBORN, MI – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement on the 50th anniversary of the Rouge River Fires: “50 years ago the Rouge River caught fire, catching the attention of our country. Filled with oil and other pollutants, the Rouge River became a symbol of over pollution and weak environmental protection. But this fire was a turning point, forcing our leaders to roll up their sleeves and worked hard to pass the Clean Water Act and other environmental legislation to reverse decades of pollution. “Since that fire 50 years ago, our country has made great progress on environmental protection. But while our rivers may be less likely to catch fire, today we face different types of environmental threats that are just as urgent as 50 years ago but less visible to the public. “PFAS chemical contamination is a looming threat to families at hundreds of military sites, and Michigan has the most contaminated sites in the country. The Administration has also rolled back critical drinking water standards and protections that we fought years to implement under the Clean Water Act. Today we’re at a similar juncture and it’s up to our leaders to decide how this moment will be remembered 50 years in the future.” ### |