[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           INTRODUCTION OF THE CLEAN WATER AMENDMENTS OF 1995

                                 ______


                            HON. BUD SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 1995
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, with several of my colleagues, I introduce 
the Clean Water Amendments of 1995.
  The bill is based on last year's draft legislation known as the 
bipartisan alternative. As many of you know, a large coalition of 
Members of the Public Works and Transportation Committee developed this 
alternative in response to other Clean Water Act proposals that were 
either unnecessary or unnecessarily prescriptive. We worked closely 
with State and local officials and the regulated community to develop 
the alternative bill.
  Original cosponsors of today's bill include some of the key 
supporters of the bipartisan alternative. We envision adding many more 
cosponsors after the bill's introduction and after our series of 
hearings with the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
  Let me emphasize the legislation to be introduced today is only a 
starting point. It does not represent extensive negotiation among or 
input from all the key interests to reflect new developments or 
positions since circulation of the bipartisan alternative last year. 
Nor is it meant to frame the debate in such a way as to prevent other 
issues or initiatives from arising. Instead, its purpose is merely to 
start the debate and to focus testimony and input from Members and 
interests over the coming weeks.
  For example, we anticipate significant revisions to the bill's 
provisions on unfunded mandates, risk assessment, and cost benefit 
analysis. We developed these provisions before circulation of the 
Contract With America, H.R. 5, and other proposals pending in Congress. 
We will certainly want to revisit some of these issues to reflect more 
current thinking.
  We also anticipate significant revisions to last year's provisions on 
nonpoint source pollution and stormwater. In fact, Mr. Speaker, some of 
the provisions could be viewed as unfunded or unfounded mandates. We 
plan to review more comprehensive proposals to overhaul the programs, 
remove redtape and unnecessary requirements, and increase flexibility 
for State and local governments.
  With regard to wetlands, we have followed the same approach as in 
last year's bipartisan alternative: Include as a separate title 
provisions from H.R 1330, the Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation and 
Management Act. This, too, is not meant as the final, consensus 
approach. We anticipate debate over various
 alternative approaches and revisions. However, we do not expect 
meaningful debate over the bill's underlying premise: The current 
section 404 wetlands program is broken and needs to be fixed.

  We also anticipate new proposals and initiatives in other areas. For 
example, we want to maximize flexibility for State and local 
governments, minimize Federal redtape and command-and-control 
regulations, and pursue market-based and risk-based approaches to 
efficient and effective water quality measures. Innovative technologies 
and pollution prevention efforts, as well as nonregulatory approaches 
to watershed planning and protection, also offer great promise.
  In the area of funding, we expect various proposals and revisions. We 
all know the value of clean water and the public and private costs in 
not having it. We also know the Federal Government has an important 
role in providing and maintaining this Nation's clean and safe drinking 
water infrastructure. What we don't know at this point is how best to 
meet those needs when Federal fiscal constraints are greater than ever 
before. We hope today's bill will serve as a starting point to identify 
answers in the end.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and to become 
actively involved in the debate. Congress needs to renew and reform the 
Clean Water Act this year. The Clean Water Amendments of 1995 will get 
us started. Let me reiterate again, however, that we are not embracing 
any particular provisions in the bill. We are simply using today's bill 
as a starting point. All reasonable suggestions and revisions, both 
large and small, are on the table for consideration.


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