Political Quotes

“I wish to express my strong opposition to H.R. 961, a bill that is inaccurately called the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1995. Let us be clear about this. If this bill becomes law, our waters will be dirtier, there will be more outbreaks of waterborne disease and there will be far fewer valuable wetlands. It cannot be hidden behind talk of flexibility or local option, the goal of this bill is to make it easier to pollute our Nation's waters. This bill takes us back to the days before 1972 when many rivers were open sewers and some even caught on fire. In 1972, when the Clean Water Act was passed, only one-third of our Nation's rivers were fit for fishing and swimming. Today, more than 60 percent of our waters meet that test. This is a record which should make us proud. It is not time for reversal of the Clean Water Act. H.R. 961 will lead us backward by removing 60 to 80 percent of our Nation's wetlands from protection, including parts of the Florida Everglades, the great dismal swamp, and the New Jersey shore. It will do virtually nothing to reduce pollution from runoff, the No. 1 cause of pollution in our Nation's waters. Polluted run-off into drinking water caused 400,000 illnesses and 104 deaths in Milwaukee 2 years ago. This bill will mean more Milwaukees in the future.”