John B. Breaux: “I'm pleased to join Senator Coverdell, Senator DeWine and Senator Grams in introducing the ``Federal Facilities Clean…”

“I'm pleased to join Senator Coverdell, Senator DeWine and Senator Grams in introducing the ``Federal Facilities Clean Water Compliance Act of 1999.'' My primary reason for sponsoring the bill is to make the federal Clean Water Act equitable by requiring that it apply to and be enforced against the federal government. Currently, states, local governments and the private sector do not have immunity from the act's enforcement. By the same principle, the federal government should not be granted such immunity from the clean water statute and this bill provides that parity. The bill also provides that the federal government would be subject to all the same enforcement mechanisms that apply to states, local governments and the private sector under the Clean Water Act. Fairness, safety, public health and environmental protection all dictate that Federal agencies should be held to the same standards for water pollution prevention and control as apply to states, local governments and the private sector. Equity is ensured by our bill because all levels of government and the private sector would be treated the same under the Clean Water Act's enforcement programs. No one would be allowed immunity. To paraphrase a well-known adage, what's good for states, local governments and the private sector in terms of clean water should be good for the federal government.”