John Shimkus: “Reclaiming my time, so you are saying your State is not capable of doing it themselves? I mean, your State health…”

“Reclaiming my time, so you are saying your State is not capable of doing it themselves? I mean, your State health department can't do the research? You are also talking about private wells on private property, bringing the Feds in to list the water systems for that. Obviously, under the system of Federal Government, we are raising some concerns on that amendment. Let me continue. If I have some time, we can go on. In addition to State departments of health that certify the laboratories--it is your department of health that certifies the laboratories that test the water, not EPA, as this legislation implies. It would place a lot of burdens on EPA to carry out a program that States and local governments could more easily and appropriately handle. It would also likely take more than a year to establish this program, which is all the bill provides in this statutory language. I believe this amendment also places serious unfunded mandates on States. Finally, I have questions about whether the information being collected and disseminated under this amendment can be done in a way that meets the proper risk communication strategies called for in the Brown amendment. That is why we have problems with this amendment.”