[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 8 (Thursday, February 3, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3425, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL 
                             PROTECTION ACT

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 1994

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues in the House, I said in a 
special order to the House last night that I came here a little over a 
year ago with some hopes and dreams, aspirations that I brought from a 
campaign for Congress and from the people that I represent, to have a 
small opportunity in the House of Representatives to make our 
Government a little bit more responsive. Here we are today debating 
this question on the rule, and really, when we get down to the very 
basics of this rule in consideration, there is a very basic question. 
That is, does this Congress want to address the question of regulatory 
reform?
  Now, my colleagues, we are all intelligent human beings and we can 
all read the legislation that is before us. If you read this 
legislation, H.R. 3425, you will see indeed it does create new offices 
and agencies, that it is not just a simple elevation bill.
  Section 109 creates information resources management office; section 
12 creates an office of environmental justice. Even section 113 creates 
an office of environmental risk. But why, why is it that we cannot 
address the question of regulatory reform? Why can we not address the 
question of risk assessment? What is the cost? What is the risk? What 
is the benefit to the public?
  We rarely get an opportunity to elevate a department to Cabinet-level 
status in this body, and the stars in the constellation do not come 
together so that we have this rare opportunity to say that this agency 
has a responsibility to the public, to business, to industry, to the 
inner cities, to agriculture, to jobs in this country. We rarely get 
that opportunity. We have that opportunity at this one moment.
  Now, this is not going to change all regulations, but it is going to 
take one agency that we are elevating--I sit on its oversight 
committee, and I tell you I cannot describe the horror, the tales that 
I've heard of mismanagement, waste, fraud, and abuse, misdirection.
  I consider myself an environmentalist. But you would be shocked if 
you saw the way the limited resources of our Nation and this Congress 
are wasted by that agency. The inspector general came before our 
subcommittee and he came to my office and he told me, he said they will 
not listen, they need focus, they need direction.
  Only the Congress can provide that direction because the Congress 
passed these dozens and dozens of laws. It is not going to be an 
Executive order, it is not going to be a tiny little effort by this 
Congress; it is going to take a law. That is why this Committee on 
Rules needs to pay attention to this matter. Again, we are not going to 
change the world. I am not going to change the world. I am just 
saying--maybe I am wrong, maybe all of these organizations, dozens of 
organizations, even inner-city organizations where the poor, the 
poorest of our citizens live, are saying their resources are 
squandered. Billions of dollars are wasted by this Agency. They do not 
have the legislative direction only this Congress can provide.
  If we do not stand up here now and be heard, when will we be heard? 
If not today, when?
  I think we have a rare opportunity to address this issue today. We 
know what the issue is here. The issue is fairness. It is not a 
partisan issue. Do not make it a partisan issue. This was introduced in 
the other body by Senator Bennett Johnston, a Democrat. I stood with my 
colleagues in committee when we had the votes to pass this, and both 
times the effort was led by people from the other side. So here we have 
the question: Are we going to make a change in this body? Are we going 
to make a change in the way this Congress does business? Or is this 
business as usual?
  I urge you to defeat the rule.

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