[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 11 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DON'T RUSH THROUGH UNFUNDED MANDATE ACT

  (Mr. MASCARA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, as a former county commissioner of 
Washington County, PA, I know firsthand how the citizens of 
southwestern Pennsylvania have been victimized by unfunded mandates. 
Regularly, my fellow commissioners and I struggled to find ways to pay 
for regulations handed down by both the Federal and State governments. 
Some of these regulations were worthwhile. Others were not.
  Despite their relative merits, all invariably resulted in the de 
facto taxation of my constituents. While I support legislation to 
rectify this situation, I am worried that H.R. 5, as supported by my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle, will not adequately solve 
the problem.
  During markup of H.R. 5 by the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight, on which I serve, it became clear that this bill could 
actually weaken current health and safety laws. None of us should 
support that outcome.
  My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are making a big mistake 
by pushing through major legislation like the unfunded mandates bill in 
the first 100 days of this session by rushing this legislation without 
thinking it through.
  Let's talk about it. Let's amend this bill and hopefully the House 
will support some of those amendments.

                          ____________________