Jim Inhofe

Today's hearing is to discuss reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration.

There is no cost to it. This is the Energy Savings Performance Contract Program that allows a company to go into an Air Force base to show them how they can, through energy savings, save $2 or $3 million a year. Then they are compensated…

There is no cost to this program, because no public dollars are involved. It is where someone goes in and finds ways to save energy and, if they are successful in doing that, they merely pay the money back. The Government doesn't get…

This amendment addresses the Energy Savings Performance Contract Program. It is a program that costs no money. It is all paid for by the savings that are accumulated. This has been cleared on both sides. Everyone is for it. I can't find…

The small marginal producers, one statement that has never been challenged is that if we had all of the marginal wells flowing today that we have plugged in the last 10 years, that it would equal more than we are currently importing from…

It is a tax on businesses who are already having very serious problems.

I just want to restate it again, and I am sure I will again and again and again, this is not a polluters tax.

I would like to make a request, and you may have to answer it for the record, but I think there are two areas that are important.

Now, let's be sure we understand this. We are paying taxpayers money to get people to lobby us, and this is a concept that I find just totally outrageous.

It is imperative that these mandates that we make are funded and we are responsible for doing that.

Wouldn't you say it is also false to say that the Superfund tax is a tax on polluters, when in fact there are many people who are subjected to this tax who had no capability of polluting, let alone any history of polluting?

The taxpayers of our Nation should have the burden of that as light as possible. The polluter should have it as heavy as possible.

Governor Leavitt, thank you very much for an excellent opening statement.

I am pleased to see that the President increased his funding request for the Superfund program of $124 million.

I am disappointed yet again to see the green eyeshades at OMB cutting the Clean Water SRF.

It's time to reinstate the Superfund fees in order to replenish the Superfund Trust Fund.

I will ask that Administrator Leavitt take the lead in this Administration in advocating for the renewal of the Superfund fees.

I would comment that every year since the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1977, we have fewer pollutants than the year before.

I want to publicly thank him for making Tar Creek a top priority.

I am concerned that the President's budget contains a significant cut in the overall science budget for EPA.

I suggest there is a fourth leg of the stool and that is for trial lawyers to get this work out.

I would also like to assure the Senator from Virginia that I concur with the explanation provided by the Senator from Ohio that it is our intent to retain the Overton Park standards as the fundamental legal standards to be applied in…

Yes, I am familiar with the proposal and am pleased to be a sponsor of the bill of the senator from New Mexico to designate U.S. 54 as a high priority corridor.

I also agree with my colleagues from California and Nevada that the Golden Gate Bridge is very important for the State. I also support working with the Senator from California in conference to provide funding for the Golden Gate Bridge…

I know it was not deliberately misrepresented, but the information is not accurate that we have heard on this amendment. It is very important that everyone know that, but I would rather have everyone vent everything they want to vent. I…