Lincoln Chafee: “this bill contains a rider that addresses methyl bromide use. It is an anti-environmental rider offered by a few members…”

“this bill contains a rider that addresses methyl bromide use. It is an anti-environmental rider offered by a few members of the other party, and slipped into the bill by the conference committee. It has not been debated by either body, and yet this language amends the Clean Air Act and constrains our ability to negotiate a more rapid phase-out of methyl bromide use with other nations. Just last week, the White House, and specifically Vice President Gore, called on the Congress to end what he called ``backdoor assaults'' on the environment. I sincerely hope that the President and Vice President mean that to apply to all anti-environmental riders, including the ones offered by their own party. This methyl bromide rider began as an effort to address a legitimate problem, but changes sought by a few members of the other party go too far. Methyl bromide is highly toxic and a potent ozone depleting compound. It is also one of the most widely used pesticides in the United States. The 1994 Montreal Protocol requires a gradual phase-out of methyl bromide beginning next year. Industrialized countries have agreed to a phase-out by 2005, while developing nations must phase-out methyl bromide by 2015. In the United States, the Clean Air Act requires an even earlier phase-out date for methyl bromide--January 1, 2001. I share the concern that the Clean Air Act's accelerated phase-out schedule might put our farmers at a competitive disadvantage.”