[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 11 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNFUNDED MANDATE REFORM ACT OF 1995

  (Mr. STUPAK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I have serious concerns regarding H.R. 5, 
the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995. While I am generally 
supportive of the need to ease the burden on State and local 
governments, I do not believe we should rush through legislation that 
effects our health, safety, and environmental standards without closer 
examination.
  The Great Lakes region, for example, is a fragile ecosystem which 
depends on the cooperation of its surrounding States. Dumping of sewage 
or other toxins by one State or municipality significantly impacts the 
entire Great Lakes region. Pollution does not respect State, geographic 
or political boundaries. Who then pays for--let's say--airborne 
pollutants generated in one State, which land in and produce acid rain 
in neighboring States?
  Northern Michigan is a pristine region whose inland lakes are dying 
from airborne pollutants originating in steel mills in cities such as 
Gary, IN, and Chicago, IL. Without any Federal safeguards or minimal 
national standards, which State will take the lead in stopping this air 
pollution that creates acid rain. And more importantly, which State 
would pay, Michigan, Indiana, or Illinois? These are questions that 
must be answered, not ignored in the haste, to create unfunded mandates 
legislation.

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