John Shimkus

Recycling is an issue that I believe makes great sense from both an environmental and an economic perspective.

I do not believe that it is a good policy to ban materials just because you don't like them.

We all want a clean environment, but we cannot fund it in a competitive global marketplace if Americans' ingenuity consciously recedes into a place where our manufacturing sector has a GDP of a third-world country.

This kind of policy strangles innovation and initiative on the business end and, ultimately, shifts costs to consumers in the form of higher taxes or increases in consumer goods and prices.

So, I think most of the panelists have said, obviously, China's National Sword Program has been a wake-up call for all of us to try to do a better job, get better material, source it better.

I am pro-plastic. OK? Plastic is a material consisting of any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds that are malleable and can be molded into solid objects.

I have said it before, but I believe it bears repeating we need to not only know how Americans' tax dollars are being spent, but are Americans' getting a better quality of life for their return on investment.

Let's remember, though, that this proposed budget--actually any President's budget--is not binding on anything Congress ultimately decides to do.

Let's remember though that this proposed budget, actually any President's budget, is not binding on anything Congress ultimately decides to do.

Flint happened because of money and politics.

We all have got to stand up to protect the residents of our communities.

And that is what the rural people are going to be concerned about is that we are going to put in more rules, more regulations and they are not going to be able to fulfill the promise of safe drinking water to all Americans.

Absolutely. And we do have programs that help do that.

What do you think you would do?

If you have to make these tough decisions, as you highlighted earlier, right, you have got to make decisions of hospitals, EMT, all this other stuff.

So not all low-income people live in metropolitan areas, do they?

It was rejected on the floor, but it is important.

I appreciate that testimony.

So that would be pretty disappointing too, don't you think, if there is not even a budget submitted by the legislative branch of the House?

Cut the administration a little slack for trying to do something versus nothing.

Preventing lead from entering drinking water remains a serious issue and it deserves this committee's attention.

Lead is a potent neurotoxin, exposure to which is known to cause serious educational deficits in children.

I understand the Agency offered to provide us with a witness on other dates if the committee wanted them.

This updated rule has been greatly anticipated by the regulated stakeholders and the general public.

What is troubling to me today is not that we are addressing the subject, but that we are not giving it the serious attention it deserves.