[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 11 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE 10TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION RE UNFUNDED MANDATES

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, the 10th amendment states that powers 
not delegated to the Federal Government will be reserved to the States 
and the people--not the other way around.
  However, the Federal Government has turned this amendment on its head 
by passing on to the States the costs of legislation it cannot afford. 
This costs States and taxpayers billions of dollars and countless hours 
in an effort to comply with extraneous regulation.
  The States are being forced to sacrifice their own programs and 
priorities in order to comply with Federal regulations.
  In my own State, we passed the Headlee amendment to the Michigan 
Constitution in 1978. This prevents the State from imposing mandates on 
local governments. This has worked to the advantage of the entire 
State; saving money and cutting burdensome regulation for local 
governments.

  The proposed Federal Unfunded Mandate Reform Act will allow greater 
flexibility for State and local governments, more accountability for 
Congress and savings for the American taxpayers.
  Mr. Speaker, if the Federal Government cannot pay for it, we should 
not force the costs on the States. It is time we take responsibility 
for our own actions.

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