The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - what a joke. In my district, we caught them lying to us about the results of air quality studies in the Barnett Shale. They are playing with the health and safety of our communities, and we are going to tell them that is not acceptable.

In this quote, Wendy Davis criticizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for their perceived dishonesty regarding the results of air quality studies in the Barnett Shale area. She calls the organization a "joke" because of what she alleges was misleading or false information provided to the public about the potential health risks in her district. Davis emphasizes that the TCEQ’s actions, which she claims put the health and safety of local communities at risk, are unacceptable and that her constituents will not tolerate this behavior.

Davis’s statement reflects her commitment to holding environmental regulators accountable and ensuring that they prioritize public health over political or economic interests. She is advocating for transparency and accuracy in environmental assessments, particularly regarding industrial activities such as those in the Barnett Shale, which is a major oil and gas region in Texas. Her frustration reveals a broader concern about the balance between economic development and the well-being of communities that may be negatively impacted by pollution.

The origin of this quote comes from Davis’s tenure as a Texas State Senator, where she was known for her advocacy on issues such as education, women’s rights, and environmental justice. Throughout her political career, Davis was vocal about her opposition to actions she believed would harm communities, especially when they involved powerful interests like the oil and gas industry. This quote reflects her broader efforts to push back against what she saw as harmful environmental practices.

Ultimately, Davis’s quote underscores the need for accountability in environmental regulation and advocates for communities to have the power to challenge the actions of regulatory bodies like the TCEQ. She calls attention to the importance of honesty and transparency in ensuring that the safety of local populations is not compromised by misleading reports or negligence in addressing environmental health risks.