Political Quotes

“in 1969 the Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire. I repeat, the Cuyahoga River caught fire. This river was so polluted that it actually started burning. As a result of this, Members of Congress and the President decided it was time we did something about the rivers and streams in this country. Following that fire, that is a river catching fire, the Clean Water Act was passed. It has been 25-plus years since that river burned. Since that time, there has been a reversal of how the rivers and streams were. Then, 80 percent of the rivers and streams were polluted. Now, about 20 percent of the rivers and streams are polluted. We have made a lot of progress with the Clean Water Act, and that is the subject of this discussion tonight. We have heard a lot of talk lately about regulatory reform, and I think it is important, because there is no area in the Federal Government--and as far as that goes, State government--that causes people as much concern as regulations.”