Chuck Grassley: “I am pleased to join my Illinois colleague, Senator Fitzgerald, as a cosponsor of his legislation banning MTBE. MTBE…”

“I am pleased to join my Illinois colleague, Senator Fitzgerald, as a cosponsor of his legislation banning MTBE. MTBE contaminates water, and it has been found in water throughout the United States. With every day that passes, more water is being contaminated. Oddly enough, we have passed a clean air bill to clean up the air, and the oil companies have used a product to meet the requirements of the clean air bill that contaminates the water. But there is an additive to the gasoline that will clean up the air as well as not contaminate the water. I will talk about that in just a minute. It is simple: With every day that passes, more water is being contaminated. Last August, the Senate soundly passed a resolution that I cosponsored with Senator Boxer of California calling for an MTBE ban. In the face of damaging, irresponsible action by the Clinton administration, it is time we put some force to our Senate position. How long must Americans suffer this dilatory charade by President Clinton's administration, also by the petroleum industry, and particularly by California officials?”