Hon. Michael G. Oxley: “In the last 15 years, environmental policy has too often evolved largely in reaction to popular panics, not in response…”

“In the last 15 years, environmental policy has too often evolved largely in reaction to popular panics, not in response to sound scientific analysis of which environmental hazards present the greatest risks. As a result * * * billions of dollars are wasted each year in battling problems that are no longer considered especially dangerous, leaving little money for others that cause far more harm. Unfortunately the Rules Committee is prohibiting the Members of this body from voting on amendments which could help solve this problem. There is an amendment offered by Mr. Mica, for example, which would simply provide important information to decisionmakers and the Congress that would be the basis for reforming EPA programs. A system to provide sound information is clearly a management reform and fully consistent with the efforts of the President and Vice President. Republicans are eager to work vigorously on the initiatives to reinvent the government but the Rules Committee has, once again, precluded real progress.”