Frank Pallone: “the President challenged the Congress last night not to turn the clock back on environmental protection. Unfortunately…”

“the President challenged the Congress last night not to turn the clock back on environmental protection. Unfortunately, that is what has been happening in this House. Whether it is Superfund or enforcement within the EPA, in each case over the last year we have seen significant threats and efforts to turn back the clock on environmental protection. Right now the Superfund Program is in shambles. Enforcement within the Environmental Protection Agency has been suggested, and pursuant to the CR that we passed, cut back by 25 percent. Lobbyists and special interests, as the President has said, the polluters, are now in the room writing the environmental bills and trying to weaken environmental laws. We need to heed the President's call. In this year in Congress we have to make sure there is adequate funding for Superfund and for environmental protection. This was always a bipartisan issue. As the President mentioned, much of the environmental laws were passed when President Nixon was President and the Democrats controlled Congress. The President also looked at the future and he said we can expand the economy; we can create jobs at the same time we protect the environment. He had a vision for the future in this country which is proenvironment, and this Congress should heed his call.”