Political Quotes

“I am today introducing five pieces of legislation that received overwhelming bipartisan support in the last Congress. They cover a range of important issues the 104th Congress must address: telecommunications reform, Superfund reform, safe drinking water, and interstate waste and flow control. These bills are largely the same as the final versions of the legislation written or acted upon by the Commerce Committee or the House in the last Congress. Interstate waste and flow control passed the House by unanimous consent. Safe drinking water was approved under the suspension calendar. Superfund was approved by a 44-0 margin in committee. And the House approved telecommunications reform by a vote of 423-5. The telecommunications legislation will reform our Nation's outdated telecommunications laws, and create an environment where competition, rather than government regulation, will govern the services that customers will have available. The text of the bill that I am introducing today is identical to last year's, with two exceptions: First, the requirement for the Justice Department to hold a hearing in every case in which a Bell Operating company requests relief has been deleted.”