Doug Bereuter: “Like my distinguished colleague from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), this Member comes to the floor to urge his colleagues to…”

“Like my distinguished colleague from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), this Member comes to the floor to urge his colleagues to look at the facts when it comes to the issue of arsenic in drinking water. The Bush administration's recent actions on this matter have led to heated rhetoric, wild exaggerations and soundbite politics. I suppose that was predictable, since the word ``arsenic'' is so emotion-loaded. It is important, I believe, to get the full story and to listen to those who would be most affected by the proposed changes. Many State and local officials, as well as water system administrators, have expressed concerns about the problems which could be caused by the proposed changes. This Member would begin by firmly stating that, of course, everyone recognizes the importance of providing safe drinking water for all of our Nation's citizens. Also some changes in the arsenic standard may well be justified. However, it makes no sense to base those changes on anything like emotion. Instead, they should be based on sound science. As many of us know now, in the final days of the Clinton administration, a final rule was rushed through which would have reduced the acceptable level of arsenic in drinking water from 50 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion. However, new EPA administrator, Christie Todd Whitman, later announced that the agency would seek a scientific review of the standard before implementing a new rule.”