Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, while this bill has many positive attributes, it fails to adequately fund the Superfund toxic waste cleanup program. It violates the budget agreement by refusing to fund the President's request. It shortchanges the millions of Americans and their children whose lives and welfare are threatened by toxic waste. By failing to provide the $650 million requested by the President for Superfund cleanup in fiscal year 1998, up to 120 Superfund site cleanups will not begin. There will be an enormous reduction in the relief that could be afforded to nearly 70 million Americans, including 10 million children who live within 4 miles of a Superfund site. The money requested sits in a trust fund collected for the very purpose of providing relief to these people who live with hazardous waste, threatening the water supplies and health. Mr. Chairman, in the past the Superfund program has been justly criticized for the speed with which it cleaned up sites. As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, I am all too aware of the history of the program. But I can tell the Members with a certainty that EPA, under the effective leadership of Carol Browner, has implemented over 50 initiatives to reform and improve the program.”