Debbie Dingell: “I rise today to ask all my colleagues to support an amendment I have offered with my good friends and colleagues from…”

“I rise today to ask all my colleagues to support an amendment I have offered with my good friends and colleagues from Michigan, Mr. Upton, Mr. Stupak and Mr. Rogers. We in Michigan have a bit of a problem, Mr. Speaker. You see, we are awash in Canadian trash. Every single day, 180 truckloads of the stuff cross over the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron and the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit. Luckily, in 1986 the United States and Canada signed the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada Concerning the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste, which was amended in 1992 to also govern the transport of municipal waste. While we are fortunate to have that agreement, the EPA unfortunately had declined to enforce it. They have had 11 years to implement the notice and consent procedure required by the agreement. Eleven years, Mr. Speaker, and incredibly EPA has taken no action! Meanwhile, Customs officials have told us in no uncertain terms that they consider these trucks 'high risk' and nearly impossible to inspect. A recent shipment included 50 pounds of marijuana. During the SARS outbreak in Toronto, where much of the garbage comes from, a Michigan State Trooper found a trash can dripping blood. These truckloads of trash are a nuisance and a danger to Michiganders. In fact, on two separate occasions, innocent citizens were hit by these semi-trucks.”