[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 189 (Wednesday, November 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2255-E2256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 440, NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION ACT OF 
                                  1995

                                 ______


                               speech of

                        HON. JAMES C. GREENWOOD

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, November 18, 1995

  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the conference 
report to accompany S. 440, the National Highway System Designation Act 
of 1995. Certain provisions in this report are of particular importance 
to my constituents and to all of the citizens of 

[[Page E 2256]]
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  Existing regulations implementing the Clean Air Act would force 
Pennsylvania to accept a centralized, test-only auto emissions 
inspection and maintenance program in order to be deemed in compliance 
with that act. The test-only program would require citizens to bounce 
back and forth between test centers and auto repair garages and would 
leave auto technicians guessing about whether their work was successful 
in addressing their customer's problems. The citizens of Pennsylvania 
voiced their extreme dissatisfaction with such a program when it was 
proposed by our previous Governor, and the State legislature repealed 
the statute which provided for that program.
  Provisions in this conference report eliminate the arbitrary 
automatic 50 percent penalty in emissions reductions credit that the 
regulations would impose on States that preferred a decentralized 
approach. While I was not a Member of Congress when the 1990 Clean Air 
Act amendments were enacted, I do not believe that Congress intended to 
require the one-size-fits all program that these regulations force on 
the States. The elimination of this penalty would restore to the States 
the flexibility that Congress intended that they have in creating 
programs that will make the most sense in their States. Additionally, 
under the provisions, States like Pennsylvania whose legislature has 
not yet passed enabling legislation will have 120 days to do so, as 
well as, to propose accompanying regulations. The Congress is aware of 
the burden imposed upon Pennsylvania by this timetable since it 
coincides with the time in which the Pennsylvania legislature must also 
develop a budget that must be enacted by June 30. The parties to the 
agreement are aware of Pennsylvania's concerns with the small window 
and intend to work with them. We also hope that EPA will be flexible in 
working with Pennsylvania as it develops its plan.
  Pennsylvania's current Governor, Tom Ridge, has proposed a 
decentralized test-and-repair program that he believes can meet the 
goals of the Clean Air Act without visiting undue hardship and 
inconvenience on the motorists and auto repair businesses of 
Pennsylvania. The inspection and maintenance provisions in this 
conference report would allow Pennsylvania to complete the design and 
implementation of a program on this decentralized basis and would allow 
that program to be judged on its actual performance over an 18-month 
period, rather than by an arbitrary rule.
  I believe that reducing ozone pollution and improving the quality of 
the air that we breathe is of great importance to my constituents and 
to the rest of the citizens of Pennsylvania. I also believe that the 
States know what will best work to achieve the goal and should have the 
latitude to design programs that make sense for their citizens. I 
believe that these provisions give that needed latitude to Pennsylvania 
and to other States that are currently wrestling with this problem, and 
I urge the adoption of the conference report.

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