There was concern that industries would not be able to operate as well or meet congressional requirements. Fears that the economy would suffer due to strict environmental regulations never materialized. Since the Clean Air Act of 1970, “aggregate emissions of common air pollutants have declined 68 percent, while U.S. gross domestic product has grown 212 percent. Over the same period, total private sector jobs increased by 88%” (Clean Air Act and Economy). There are numerous reasons why the United States benefited from the Clean Air Act: environmental costs represent a small percentage of industry revenues, cleaner technologies have made the United States a global market leader, more people can work because they are more healthy, fewer employees money spent on illnesses, increased employment and increased income… (Clean Air Act and Economy). It is clear that strict pollution laws do not harm the