Lloyd Bentsen: “just to make it clear, both Governor Bush, a Republican, and former governor Ann Richards, a Democrat, have supported…”

“just to make it clear, both Governor Bush, a Republican, and former governor Ann Richards, a Democrat, have supported this, as well as the Texas State legislature, which is a split legislature between Republican and Democrat. By entering into the compact, Texas can keep other out-of-State compact waste from entering into our State. Currently, 41 other States have entered into these types of compacts to prevent further importation of out-of-State waste. Now, with respect to the issue of the site, as was raised by my colleague from North Texas, the question of the administrative law judge as to the suitability of the site is again an issue for the State to decide. What we are talking about here is the issue of the compact with Maine and Vermont, and that is what we ought to concern ourselves with. It is very important to the State of Texas as it relates to the low- level radioactive waste that we produce in my district at the Texas Medical Center all across the State of Texas. This is an issue that the State will decide. The bill establishes a structure for the State to decide, and it limits the amount of out-of-State waste that can come in. So I would urge my colleagues to do as they have done in the past and support the conference report.”