Political Quotes

“than you for this opportunity to offer my support and thanks for a provision included in H.R. 5662 which extends the existing brownfields cleanup tax incentive through January 1, 2004, and removes the targeting requirement. My colleagues Nancy Johnson, Bill Coyne and I have worked hard to ensure that the current law tax provision be extended and made eligible for brownfield cleanups in all communities across the nation. I am pleased that we have accomplished this in this bill and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Brownfield sites exist throughout our districts--abandoned eyesores that blight our communities and drag down local economies. Many brownfield properties are located in prime business locations near critical infrastructure, including transportation, and close to a productive workforce. These sites need to be put back into productive use, contributing to the economy and producing good paying jobs where they are needed most. The first step towards doing this is to remediate these sites environmentally. This U.S. Conference of Mayors estimates that there are over 400,000 brownfields sites across the country. We clearly should not limit the treatment of Section 198 to merely targeted areas. Development of these sites will help restore many blighted areas, create jobs where unemployment is high and ease pressure to develop beyond the fringes of communities. Small, urban centered businesses often benefit most directly by this redevelopment.…”