Bruce F. Vento: “Mr. Chairman, I think that my colleague, my friend from Pennsylvania who preceded me, points out by example the reason…”

“Mr. Chairman, I think that my colleague, my friend from Pennsylvania who preceded me, points out by example the reason we should not have the type of language in this bill. In fact, I know it is a time-honored tradition of the Committee on Appropriations to try and micro-manage and administer the specifics of many laws, but the fact is, when I voted for these laws, that is what I meant. I meant that I wanted our Superfund dollars used to clean up the problems. This bill prevents the use of the brownfields dollars to clean up. I wanted the mercury out of our air. That is what I wanted the EPA to do. This particular provision stops the EPA from implementing the removal of mercury and of necessary standards for utilities. I wanted the PCBs that are lining our lakes and waters and riverways cleaned up so that it was not in our waters and riverways. This particular provision in the bill before us micro-manages the EPA and says you cannot do that particular dredging. When I voted for the Food Quality Protection Act, I wanted the pesticides out of our food, as did almost every other Member. And I do not want some staff member or other groups that are there making a contrary decision in appropriations report language, I want the EPA, the scientists and the other professionals, to set those pesticide standards so that I am not eating such pesticides, and so do the people I represent.”