[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            SUPPORT URGED FOR THE EMPLOYEE COMMUTING OPTION

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this 
opportunity to thank the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Manzullo] for 
introducing his legislation to assist States by allowing for greater 
autonomy in implementing the employee commuting option which was 
mandated by the Clean Air Act. I am an original cosponsor of this 
legislation for several reasons.
  This bill, which would give State governments the option of 
implementing carpool mandates, puts a little sanity back in a provision 
which randomly penalizes counties by using a single statistic and 
lumping them together without any relation to their air quality.
  I represent a rural district and unfortunately part of my district--
Howard and Carroll Counties--is lumped in with Baltimore as a severe 
nonattainment area. Those of you who have been to this area know that 
this is downright silly and outrageous, yet the businesses and 
residents must adhere to strict guidelines which are going to harm any 
kind of economic growth in this area and place hardships on employers 
and employees.
  As a farmer, I believe in a clean environment and clean air as much 
as anybody else, but regulations which strangle an economy randomly 
must be examined. I believe State representatives understand the 
intricate details and special needs of each community far better than 
the Federal Government.
  This is good legislation, I urge its adoption.

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