Frank Pallone: “I am amazed. I appreciate the fact that the gentleman from New York is basically getting this half right... But…”

“I am amazed. I appreciate the fact that the gentleman from New York is basically getting this half right... But essentially what he is doing here is eliminating the liability or allowing rebates, if you will, for those who have entered into consent orders and admitted liability. So if a polluter said, 'Look, I did this,' and enters into the consent decree, then they can still get a rebate check. For the life of me, I do not understand why we should allow that if someone has admitted guilt, so to speak, and said that they contributed to the mess. I think it is commendable that the gentleman is going halfway and agreeing with the rest of the Markey amendment, but I totally oppose the idea that just because there is a consent order outstanding that someone has entered into, that somehow that person should continue to be able to get a rebate. It goes against the grain in terms again of what the Superfund program is all about, and the idea is that those who polluted should pay.”