[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 19 (Monday, February 28, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    SENATE USE OF DOUBLE-SIDED PAPER

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to urge my colleagues to join 
me in reducing the amount of paper generated in the U.S. Senate by 
adopting a policy of using double-sided paper in their personal and 
committee offices. By shrinking our use of paper, we can save the 
taxpayer money and reduce our use of natural resources.
  The United States generated 196 million tons of garbage in 1990. The 
largest component of the municipal solid waste stream--52 million tons 
in 1990--is paper and paperboard. We need to address our Nation's 
mounting garbage problem by generating less garbage, particularly paper 
waste.
  The U.S. Congress has initiated some commendable measures to deal 
with this problem. Among these are the recycling program that each 
Senator's office participates in and the printing of the Congressional 
Record on recycled paper generated by Garden State Paper in Garfield, 
NJ. Yet, while these programs extend the life of the raw materials that 
are used to manufacture products, the highest priority in the Nation's 
waste management hierarchy is to prevent the generation of waste in the 
first place.
  Well over 1,000 hearings are held by Senate committees during each 
congressional year. Invited witnesses--ranging from 1 to 20 at any 
given hearing--are required to submit at least 50 and in some cases 200 
copies of their written testimony, depending on individual committee 
rules. I have personally seen statements that were longer than some 
books I have read. And while lengthy testimony may sometimes be 
necessary, submitting this testimony in a wasteful manner is 
unjustifiable. Most written testimony is printed on only one side of 
the paper and in a double-spaced format.
  Senate staff are also responsible for generating large quantities of 
paper. Few Senate offices are connected by the same computer system, 
preventing staff from communicating via E-mail. Instead, most 
correspondence between and often within Senate offices, including 
informal memos, is conducted in writing.
  A front page article in the Washington Post on November 14 cited the 
president of the American Forest and Paper Association stating that 
Washington is the paper capital of the world. In fact, the paper 
industry estimates that offices in the area consumed so much copier 
paper last year that if laid end to end, it would reach the Moon and 
back nine times over.
  The U.S. Senate must put an end to the practice of wasting paper. The 
Office of the Secretary of the Senate estimates that nearly 42 million 
sheets of copier-grade paper are used by the Senate during a calendar 
year. Using double-sided rather than one-sided copies would reduce the 
quantity of paper used in the conduct of Senate business by as much as 
50 percent. According to the Congressional Research Service, this 
practice alone could save over 1,700 trees annually. Urging witnesses 
to submit testimony on double-sided paper could save even more trees.
  In addition, using figures provided by the Secretary of the Senate, I 
estimate that double-sided copying in Senate offices would save the 
American taxpayer almost $100,000 a year just in copier paper 
procurement costs. Moreover, while there occasionally are legitimate 
reasons for using a double-spaced format--such as drafting 
legislation--printing documents single-spaced as a general rule would 
further reduce the quantity of paper needed to produce documents and 
the expenditure for procuring copy paper.
  Double-sided copying would not impose an unreasonable hardship or 
inconvenience on the public. The technology to copy papers in duplex 
format is readily available today, and the cost of copying documents in 
duplex at commercial copy centers is less than or equal to the cost of 
copying documents on one side only.
  Three months ago, President Clinton issued an Executive order aimed 
at using Government procurement to prevent and recycle waste. One 
provision in this order requires every Government agency to encourage 
that all documents printed internally be printed double-sided. I 
commend the President on this initiative and call upon Congress to join 
the executive branch and lead the Nation in instituting waste reduction 
practices. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
meaningful initiative.
  I had intended to offer a resolution to change the Senate rules to 
encourage the use of double-sided paper in the Senate. After discussing 
the matter with Senator Ford, chairman of the Rules Committee, I 
decided not to introduce the resolution. Instead, Senator Ford agreed 
to write to Senators urging that each Senator support the use of 
single-spaced and double-sided paper for office communications. I want 
to thank Senator Ford for his cooperation. I ask unanimous consent that 
a copy of the letter I wrote to Senator Ford and the letter Senators 
Ford and Stevens wrote to each Member be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                 Washington, DC, January 25, 1994.
     Sen. Wendall H. Ford,
     Chairman, Committee on Rules and Administration, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Wendell: I have prepared a resolution which would 
     require committee witnesses to submit testimony in a double-
     sided (duplex) and single-spaced format. As you know, 
     witnesses at Senate hearings must submit anywhere from fifty 
     to two hundred copies of their testimony, depending on 
     individual committees' rules. Additionally, the resolution 
     would require Senate staff, to the extent practicable, to 
     copy informal memos and other documents in this format. Such 
     a change in procedure would significantly reduce the amount 
     of paper that is used to conduct Senate business.
       Paper and paperboard, taken collectively, is the largest 
     component of municipal solid waste in this country. And 
     Washington, in addition to being the Nation's capitol, is 
     also the paper capitol of the world. A recent front page 
     article in ``The Washington Post'' reported that if the paper 
     used in Washington last year was laid end to end, it would 
     reach the moon and back nine times over.
       Our staff have discussed the resolution and I understand 
     that you are supportive of duplex, single-spaced copying as a 
     way to reduce paper waste. I understand that you will be 
     sending a letter to all Senators, strongly encouraging 
     committee chairs and Senators to adopt this policy in their 
     respective committees and offices. I will withhold 
     introducing my resolution with the hope that your appeal will 
     produce some tangible results.
       I recently instituted such a policy in my personal office 
     and, while it necessitates some minor changes in daily 
     habits, my staff has been very receptive. I believe that 
     staff members in our colleagues' offices will be pleased with 
     this small but meaningful contribution that we are making 
     toward resolving our nation's solid waste management problem.
           Sincerely,
                                              Frank R. Lautenberg.
                                  ____

         U.S. Senate, Committee on Rules and Administration,      
                                 Washington, DC, February 2, 1994.
     Hon. Frank R. Lautenberg,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Frank: Thank you for your letter of January 25, 1994. 
     I am pleased to inform you that Senator Stevens and I have 
     written to all Senators, committee chairman, and ranking 
     members regarding this matter. Copies of these letters are 
     enclosed.
       We hope there will be a reduction in the use of paper as a 
     result of this communication.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Wendell H. Ford,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____

         U.S. Senate, Committee on Rules and Administration,
                                 Washington, DC, February 2, 1994.
     Hon. ------ ------,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear ------ ------: Reduction of paper and printing costs 
     continue to be a major initiative of the Rules Committee. 
     Senator Lautenberg suggested an amendment to the Standing 
     Rules of the Senate that would require paper conservation 
     practices. While we object to incorporating such detail into 
     the Standing Rules, we do support this principle.
       We therefore urge each Member, to the extent practicable, 
     to use a single-spaced and double-sided (duplex) format for 
     office communications. Use of this format will decrease costs 
     to the taxpayers by reducing waste disposal and printing 
     costs.
       We appreciate your consideration of this proposal.
           Sincerely,
     Ted Stevens,
       Ranking Member.
     Wendell H. Ford,
       Chairman.
                                  ____

         U.S. Senate, Committee on Rules and Administration,
                                 Washington, DC, February 2, 1994.
     Hon. ------ ------,
     Chairman, Committee on ------ ------, U.S. Senate, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear ------ ------: Reduction of paper and printing costs 
     continue to be a major initiative of the Rules Committee. 
     Senator Lautenberg suggested an amendment to the Standing 
     Rules of the Senate that would require paper conservation 
     practices. While we object to incorporating such detail into 
     the Standing Rules, we do support this principle.
       We therefore urge each Committee to adopt a rule to require 
     that all written statements submitted to the Committee be 
     single-spaced and double-sided (duplex) and that transcripts 
     of testimony be single-spaced. Use of this format will 
     decrease costs to the taxpayers by reducing waste disposal 
     and printing costs.
       We appreciate your consideration of this proposal.
           Sincerely,
     Ted Stevens,
       Ranking Member.
     Wendell H. Ford,
       Chairman.

                          ____________________