[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            UNFUNDED MANDATES AND THE CONTRACT WITH AMERICA

  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include 
extraneous material.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, this morning I read a letter from 
Delilah Gonzales, a seventh-grader from New Mexico, asking me to 
protect her from water contamination. Can we assure Delilah that this 
legislation we are passing on unfunded mandates will protect her and 
many other children from water contamination?
  In the haste to meet political deadlines, we must not take away 
safeguards to public health and environmental safety for all Americans.
  Although like many I support cutting redtape and bureaucracies in 
State and local governments, I believe it must be done without harm to 
children and their families.
  I do not want the American people to be faced with pollution in the 
air and disease-bearing organisms in public water systems because of 
legislation that was hastily passed in the Congress.
  We have to protect the people, and Congress must make sure that they 
are safe in their own homes.
  Mr. Speaker, my constituent, Delilah Gonzales, wants clean water to 
drink and clear streams in which to fish. Nothing we do in this body 
should be at the expense of her health.
  The letter referred to follows:

                                     John Adams Middle School,

                               Albuquerque, NM, December 11, 1994.
     Congressman Richardson,
     Washington, DC.
       Mr. Richardson: My 7th grade class is studying water use, 
     over-use and contamination. We would like to know what things 
     you do in your personal life to help conserve and protect our 
     nation's water supply.
       Please send us a short note telling us what you do to save 
     water.
       Thank you.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Delilah Gonzales.
     

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