Jasper Packard: “I rise today to commend a fellow San Diegan, Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA), on his leadership in helping to reduce…”

“I rise today to commend a fellow San Diegan, Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA), on his leadership in helping to reduce air pollution in southern California. Mr. Bilbray's legislation, The Border Smog Reduction Act of 98, H.R. 8, is a bipartisan approach to improving border air quality and strengthening our pollution control strategies in the state of California. It is focused on foreign commuter vehicles which often emit a disproportionately high level of pollutants along the border region. Mr. Speaker, enacting this legislation could curb vehicular smog in San Diego by as much as 13 percent. Many of the Mexican-registered vehicles, while driven by individuals who come legally into the U.S. for work or for school, lack the same smog controls required on all cars registered to the state of California. This bill would allow the Customs Inspector to require a smog certificate for any vehicle before entering into the United States and would empower border agents to prohibit any car from entering without one. I support this bill, as it will target and reduce a known and identified source of air pollution. It will improve air quality in the environment, and will benefit children and other vulnerable populations on both sides of the border. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the Border Smog Reduction Act of 98 and urge the support of all other members as it will improve our overall environment and public health.”