[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2402-E2403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996

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                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL G. OXLEY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 1995

  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, there were a number of environmental matters 
in this year's 

[[Page E2403]]
DOD authorization bill that fell within the jurisdiction of the 
Committee on Commerce, and for which Chairman Bliley and I served as 
conferees. The first issue related to reforms of so-called restoration 
advisory boards, which are community involvement organizations 
developed by the Department of Defense to ensure citizen participation 
in decisionmaking on environmental cleanups of DOD facilities. The 
Commerce Committee is very concerned that the bill's provisions may 
ultimately have the effect of putting an inappropriate burden on the 
Superfund trust fund, and I understand that an exchange of letters 
between Chairmen Bliley and Spence will be included in the record of 
this debate. I simply rise to emphasize the point, and to assure may 
colleagues that, as the Commerce Committee considers its Superfund 
reform legislation in 1996, we will be keeping a close eye on this 
issue.
  The second matter of importance to the Committee was a direct 
amendment to Superfund relating to DOD's ability to lease parcels of 
its property. We worked closely with the Senator from New Hampshire in 
the other body to make commonsense reforms in this area. Nevertheless, 
the Commerce Committee clearly retains jurisdiction over these 
provisions, and In intend to review them as our Superfund reform bill 
progresses.

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