William R. Richardson: “this morning I read a letter from Delilah Gonzales, a seventh-grader from New Mexico, asking me to protect her from…”

“this morning I read a letter from Delilah Gonzales, a seventh-grader from New Mexico, asking me to protect her from water contamination. Can we assure Delilah that this legislation we are passing on unfunded mandates will protect her and many other children from water contamination? In the haste to meet political deadlines, we must not take away safeguards to public health and environmental safety for all Americans. Although like many I support cutting redtape and bureaucracies in State and local governments, I believe it must be done without harm to children and their families. I do not want the American people to be faced with pollution in the air and disease-bearing organisms in public water systems because of legislation that was hastily passed in the Congress. We have to protect the people, and Congress must make sure that they are safe in their own homes. Mr. Speaker, my constituent, Delilah Gonzales, wants clean water to drink and clear streams in which to fish. Nothing we do in this body should be at the expense of her health.”