Sean Patrick Maloney: “I am reluctant to oppose H.R. 5, because I think that its basic purpose is sound and important. Gone are the days when…”

“I am reluctant to oppose H.R. 5, because I think that its basic purpose is sound and important. Gone are the days when Congress can heap miles of mandates upon State and local governments without regard to what these requirements cost. Let there be no mistake, I support unfunded mandates reform legislation. Last year, I proudly voted for a well-crafted bill in Congress. But this bill has many serious problems. My first problem is one of process. It is ironic that the very first bill to be reported out of the newly renamed Committee on Government Reform and Oversight was forced through the committee in a very heavy-handed way without a public hearing, even though this bill has the potential of affecting the basic environmental, health, and safety regulations afforded the American people. That is not Government reform, Mr. Chairman. It is simply a partisan power play. But this debate should not be one about process. It should be about progress. Mr. Chairman, my concern is that the bill before us, however well-intentioned, will roll back the progress that the Federal Government has made in protecting the fundamental rights of the American people, the right to breathe clean air, drink pure water, eat healthy food, work in a safe workplace.”