[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           EPA ADMINISTRATOR

                                 ______


                         HON. RICHARD H. LEHMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 24, 1994

  Mr. LEHMAN. Mr. Speaker, last week EPA Administrator Browner made 
some comments with which I am in complete disagreement.
  Ms. Browner directly blamed Congress for the delay in setting food 
safety standards. Her attack focused on a supposed inability to move 
pesticide-use legislation through the Congress. In truth, however, it 
is the administration's inaction that has slowed the reform process. 
Where are their guidelines for protecting the food supply? The 
administration has been talking about offering its own legislation for 
months now, but we have yet to see a concrete proposal.
  Meanwhile, H.R. 1627, the Food Quality Protection Act, has the 
support of almost a majority of Congress, but has been held up due to 
the expected release of the administration's proposal. H.R. 1627 would 
allow the EPA the discretion to establish standards based on realistic 
health and economic benefits. In the context of Congress' support of 
cost/benefit analysis in environmental policy, the administration would 
be well-advised to offer environmental legislation which also relies on 
real-world assessments of risk and economic cost.
  I thank Mr. Stenholm for committing to mark up H.R. 1627, and I hope 
my colleagues and the administration recognize the importance of 
effective risk assessments in setting food safety standards.

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