[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       GIVING STATES AUTHORITY WILL ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

  (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I want to follow on the statement that was 
made eloquently by my friend from Cleveland about the issue of the 
environmental commitment of the 104th Congress.
  I come from a State which is very sensitive to environmental 
concerns. In fact, the district which I represent has had the highest 
number of first stage smog alerts in the Nation. We have very serious 
groundwater contamination problems.
  The fact of the matter is, this Congress is committed to moving in 
the next several weeks with very important legislation, the Safe 
Drinking Water Act, which continues to be a top priority. And as my 
friend said, this concept of one-size-fits-all regulations emanating 
from right here in Washington has failed.
  In fact, we have seen improved environmental quality in spite of, not 
because of, the bureaucracy that has existed here. Every shred of 
evidence demonstrates that we will, in fact, be able to enhance 
environmental quality in this country and in my State of California if 
we are able to give the States the kind of authority that is 
desperately needed. That is the commitment that we have.

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