Frank Pallone: “Last Thursday a group of senior Republicans on the Committee on Commerce and the Committee on Transportation and…”

“Last Thursday a group of senior Republicans on the Committee on Commerce and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure proclaimed that House Republicans are willing to put ``our money where our mouths are'' on the issue of Superfund reform. These same Republicans also said that they were putting more money into the program than the Democrats ever did. Well, I do not think that is the case, Mr. Chairman. While Republicans say they are appropriating $2.2 billion for Superfund in this bill, I think my colleagues should take a good, hard look at a provision on page 68 of this bill that sets aside $861 million of that appropriation to pay for the Superfund reform. You see, the $861 million is available only if Congress enacts future legislation to appropriate it. So in essence this is future spending that may or may not ever occur. The amendment that myself and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Borski] and the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Markey] have simply strikes that contingency and would truly fund the Superfund Program at $2.2 billion this year. Our amendment gives the Republicans the chance to make good on their promise. If extra Superfund money really does exist, it should be available immediately and for the purpose it was intended.”