[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 38 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE DEFENSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT ACT OF 1997

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                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 20, 1997

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago Congress adopted procedural 
steps that ensured that unfunded mandates and tax increases could not 
be enacted unless specifically considered and approved by the House. 
Today I am introducing the Defense of the Environment Act of 1997 with 
Representative Gephardt and Representative Miller of California. This 
legislation would extend this same protection to environmental 
policies.
  The Defense of the Environment Act is a commonsense safeguard that 
could dramatically improve the consideration of environmental 
legislation at virtually no cost. Nothing in the Act would prevent 
Congress from weakening or eliminating any existing environmental 
protection, even though a December 1996 Roper poll indicates that only 
19 percent of our constituents favor rolling back environmental 
policies. Instead, the Act only takes the modest step of requiring a 
brief time for debate and a vote on any weakening legislation.
  This is a practical measure which will simply ensure that 
environmental legislation receives adequate consideration before 
becoming law. I encourage my colleagues to consider the Defense of the 
Environment Act. I believe it is one environmental bill that we can all 
agree on.

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