Frank Pallone: “I rise in support of the open rule but against the bill. I think it is very important that we do have an open rule…”

“I rise in support of the open rule but against the bill. I think it is very important that we do have an open rule without time limits on this legislation because it is so controversial, and I do believe that the bill makes fundamental changes to the Clean Water Act that are not in the national interest. I was very pleased to hear my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton], speak before because he pointed out and reminded me about the fact that when we were first elected to the Congress, back in the mid or late 1980's, that a big part of our election was because we swore that we would come down here and try to stop ocean dumping and improve ocean water quality. The fact of the matter is that since those New Jersey beach closings in 1987 and 1988 the ocean water quality and the quality of our rivers and harbors have increased dramatically in the State of the New Jersey and throughout the country. People tell us every day, and in particular looking forward to the beach season this summer, they talk about how improved the water quality is and how many people want to come down to the shore and swim and enjoy our beaches and our water. We cannot turn the clock back, and my fear is that this is what this legislation does. It in effect turns the clock back and makes it very possible that, if it were to pass 5, 10, 20 years from now, our water quality would significantly decrease.”