Political Quotes

“State and local governments have high hopes that 1994 will bring real relief from the burdens of unfunded Federal mandates. This week our Nation's Governors are in town and the No. 1 topic of conversation is how do we get Congress to provide us with relief. It is timely then that for the first time we will discuss the issue of unfunded mandates on the floor if we consider H.R. 3425, the Department of Environmental Protection Act of 1993. A survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors shows that of the top 10 unfunded Federal mandates, 8 are environmental. Costs to cities, which does not include costs to States or small local governments, is projected to be more than $50 billion over the next 4 years. Often these costs are simply passed onto taxpayers. All of us support protection of human health and the environment. However, State and local governments are going bankrupt trying to implement every environmental regulation without any flexibility or fiscal support. I will offer an amendment to H.R. 3425 as a first step to help State and local governments. My amendment directs the new Department to promote a strategy, consistent with environmental laws, to ease the burden of unfunded environmental mandates.”