Barbara Boxer

Well, that is right. I needed global warming that day.

Senator Inhofe said, I am not going to support this unless you show me the payback.

Would you do that? That would be very helpful.

Because the President used a $24 billion number and that is huge.

Do you know the cost of energy that the Federal Government from, the total cost? I saw it in one document and it was $24 billion a year.

When will you have the first accounting of the savings from some of the things you have been doing?

The Federal Government is positioned to be a leader in efforts to improve efficiency, eliminate waste, improve environmental performance and save money.

If the entire response is coordinated, it includes the EPA, the ATSDR, the NIH, the CDC.

It is high time we did it because I don't want to see a private citizen getting calls because there is no faith in the government right now.

I think if our bill moves forward and we can get to the bottom of this, and let's say we go into a place and we find that, no, there is no connection to the environment, and they may find it.

I am committed to working with colleagues from both parties to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act in a way that protects public health and works for businesses.

Nothing in this bill is going to prevent cancer clusters.

The true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated.

The reason we said EPA is if they find it is an environmental issue, it is EPA that has the ability to deal with air, water and soil.

Well, I think the Boxer-Crapo bill is really trying to address this, and I hope colleagues will jump on as cosponsors and we can get this done quickly through the committee.

Now, I am proud to cosponsor Chairman Boxer's legislation to make it easier for State and Federal agencies to work together to investigate disease clusters and educate communities about them.

I will soon introduce an updated version of my Safe Chemicals Act, which would require that chemical manufacturers prove that their products are safe before those substances end up in our bodies.

Imagine a world without children.

She assured us that she is completely committed to a bi-partisan solution as to where the legislation will be administered.

I would just say, and this is sort of a rhetorical question, but it is OK, don't you think that this indicates that people are frustrated?

The bottom line is that we have to do more to protect our children and grandchildren from conditions and substances that could damage their health and shorten their lives.

Before my friend leaves, I thank her so much, and I am going to leave the floor so my Republican friends have time to speak on this issue. America will hear a lot of different stories from a lot of different people. But, remember, this is…

I do not at this point. We are taking our time. I wish to say through the Chair to my friend, this amendment is so radical, it is so far beyond any other amendment we have ever had on this subject, so I am not going to yield the floor…

I will continue yielding without losing my right to the floor because there will be a question.

I have the floor, and I plan to proceed as long as colleagues want to come and ask questions. I could go until about 5.