[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              RISK ASSESSMENT AND COST-BENEFIT ACT OF 1995

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                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 27, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1022) to 
     provide regulatory reform and to focus national economic 
     resources on the greatest risks to human health, safety, and 
     the environment through scientifically objective and unbiased 
     risk assessments and through the consideration of costs and 
     benefits in major rules, and for other purposes:

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1022, 
the Risk Assessment and Cost Benefit Act.
  H.R. 1022 is not a regulatory reform bill as the new Republican 
leadership claims. It is an attempt by supporters of the Contract On 
America to destroy environmental protections which the American people 
fought for long and hard. Landmark environmental legislation such as 
the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the endangered Species Act 
will be superseded by H.R. 1022, leaving our air, water, and wildlife 
unprotected.
  Under H.R. 1022, 12 Federal agencies including the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Energy Department, and the Interior Department 
will be required to follow a single set of new, government-wide 
principles for risk assessment activities in order to carry out their 
regulatory responsibilities. This one-size-fits-all approach to risk 
assessments will prevent Federal officials from developing sound public 
policy. Instead, H.R. 1022 will lead to long delays of important 
environmental protection programs, and more red tape.
  Mr. Chairman, this bill will impact not only our nation's 
environment, but our nation's taxpayers as well. The Congressional 
Budget Office estimated that risk assessment proposals similar to H.R. 
1022 would cost affected federal agencies $250 million annually. H.R. 
1022 does not contain provisions to offset the bill's potential costs. 
Therefore, it will result in increasing the deficit or cutting 
desperately needed funds for education and other social programs.
  Mr. Chairman, it seems that lawyers are the only ones who benefit 
from H.R. 1022. The bill opens up numerous new pathways for litigation, 
and it gives lawyers interested in holding up valuable environmental 
regulations a powerful new tool to prolong agency actions.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to oppose the Republican 
leadership's efforts to hamper the government's ability to protect the 
environment. Vote no on H.R. 1022. Thank you.


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