Henry Waxman: “I urge my colleagues to sustain President Clinton's veto of the Interior appropriations bill. The legislative riders in…”

“I urge my colleagues to sustain President Clinton's veto of the Interior appropriations bill. The legislative riders in H.R. 1977 mandate extreme changes in national environmental policy that cannot stand public scrutiny on their own. Otherwise, they would not be hidden in this funding bill. One of the riders in H.R. 1977 would end a hugely successful energy-efficiency program that was enacted 8 years ago during the Reagan administration. At that time, a broad industry coalition that included all major appliance manufacturers agreed to efficiency standards to make refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, dishwashers, and gas furnaces more efficient. On average, these Federal efficiency standards have brought savings of $1,300 per U.S. household--a total of $130 billion in economic savings. Why would Congress terminate a program that has brought such great savings to our constituents and dramatically reduced emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global warming? It is not because global warming is not a problem. Today's New York Times reports that last year was the warmest year since records were first kept in 1856; and that the years 1991 through 1995 were warmer than any similar 5-year period on record. Why would we raise the cost of energy to our constituents to allow for greater pollution of their environment and an increase in global warming?”