[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


STATES URGED TO JOIN THE HOUSE IN PASSING UNFUNDED MANDATES LEGISLATION

  (Mr. EHLERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute, and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, this morning we expect to pass a bill 
dealing with unfunded mandates, and I will be voting for that bill. I 
do want to make it clear that I do have some reservations in 
environmental areas, but those can be addressed as we go along.
  The main purpose of my comments today is to point out that we are 
only part of the problem, and I challenge the States of these great 
United States to follow our example and pass unfunded mandates bills 
within their own legislative bodies.
  In the State of Michigan we required a constitutional amendment 
initiated by the citizens of the State to address this problem. Since I 
have worked at the county commission level, the State legislative 
level, and the Federal level, I can assure the Members that everyone 
tries to pass mandates down to the body below them and require them to 
pay the costs.
  My challenge to the States is to follow Michigan's example--adopt a 
constitutional amendment as we did in Michigan and prohibit passing 
unfunded mandates down to cites, counties, townships, and other forms 
of government.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all the States to join us in this effort as we 
pass our unfunded mandates bill today.


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