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Statement Of Sister Janet Griffin
Environmental Protection Agency
Aging Initiative Public Listening Session
San Antonio, Texas
April 8, 2003
I am a Sister of Divine Providence from San Antonio. It has recently come to my attention that the EPA now applies a discounted value of 60 percent to people over 70 years old when the Agency does a cost/benefit analysis for an environment policy. Assigning a lesser value to senior citizens, I think, implies that saving a life of a senior citizen is less important then saving the life of someone younger. I think this asks the ethical question: when we consider that all life is, and how precious is, and that one's health is the most important thing we have--regardless of age - what does it count if we discount people over 70? Also, I think that most families want their grandparents to live. So, I would like to ask: Is this really necessary? Thank you.