[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  LOBBYISTS SUGGEST STALLING CONGRESS

                                 ______


                         HON. RICHARD W. POMBO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 1994

  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that lobbyists 
for several major environmental organizations have suggested stalling 
Congress from moving on any environmental legislation this year.
  Calling amendments on property takings, unfunded mandates, and risk 
assessment analysis an ``unholy trinity,'' these groups have even 
suggested killing major reauthorization efforts already under way in 
order to avoid the inclusion of such amendments.
  What I want to know, Mr. Speaker, is what are they afraid of? This 
so-called ``unholy trinity'' is simply an effort by some Members of 
this body to add some commonsense to the standard operating procedure 
of the Federal Government and to ease the burden of excessive 
regulations on the citizens of this country.
  Since the protection of private property is guaranteed in the 
Constitution, there should be no need to introduce ``property rights'' 
amendments to any piece of legislation. The Federal Government seems to 
ignore this, however, and leaves us with no choice.
  Unfunded Federal mandates are crippling our States and localities. 
Yet every year we force more and more of these burdensome and 
unnecessary regulations upon them.
  Risk assessment is a simple, basic step in running a successful and 
cost efficient organization. Imagine the potential for disaster if a 
company, or a small business, were to make major operating decisions 
without assessing he risks or providing a cost/benefit analysis of 
their actions.
  Legislation that protects private property rights, curbs unfunded 
mandates, and requires risk assessment is by no means an ``unholy 
trinity.'' they are the foundations of practical, realistic and 
responsible public policy. We owe the American people nothing less.

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