James Oberstar: “I want to, again, express my appreciation to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster) for bringing this…”

“I want to, again, express my appreciation to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster) for bringing this legislation to the committee and to the floor so expeditiously, and to compliment the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) for his dogged pursuit of this legislation. He has been a relentless advocate for action on the Mississippi Sound. The restoration act that he brings to the floor tonight is one that he has championed for many years and advocated vigorously within the committee and is one that will stand as a crown jewel in his legislative achievement. Much progress has been made under the Clean Water Act since 1972, but many bodies of water still require additional attention and resources to achieve the clean water goals that we set forth 28 years ago. The unique ecosystem in southern Mississippi that covers 2,400 square miles with a drainage basin, as the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) said, that extends from Mississippi into Louisiana, is one of the great jewels of our natural resources in the United States. But much of the problem that this legislation will address bears a made-in-other-States label.”