William Tauzin: “Yes, but you would not believe that by listening to some of this debate on the floor. The fact of the matter is there…”

“Yes, but you would not believe that by listening to some of this debate on the floor. The fact of the matter is there are quite a number of lobby groups in this town on both sides of this equation who have very special interests. There are environmental lobby groups who have very special interests in keeping a fight going, raising more money and fighting some more. There are other groups out here who obviously would like to not see any environmental protection in the land. Neither one is right. What we have to do is find the balance to make sure that neither one of the lobby groups sneak away with the issue and we never get anything done, but that in fact Americans get a cleaner, healthier, and safer place to live in out of this maze of regulation and legislation. The bottom line is we ought to be asking the simple question, does this work. If it does not work to bring us a cleaner, healthier place, if it does not work to save a species, if it does not work to really protect wetlands, then let us build a better system. Let us build one that makes common sense and works and delivers for Americans what they are paying for, which is cleanup of hazardous sites, which is protection of endangered species, which is protection of valuable wetlands, and protection of the clean water and the air and the lands upon which we live. If we deliver on that promise, it will be the best bipartisan gift we can give to America, not only on this Earth Day, but on every Earth Day.”