[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1943-H1946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      EXTENDING THE ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS RESEARCH PROGRAM

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 363) to amend section 2118 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 1992 to extend the Electric and Magnetic Fields Research 
and Public Information Dissemination program, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 363

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS.

       Section 2118 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
     13478) is amended--
       (1) in subsections (c)(5), (e)(5), (g)(3)(B), (j)(1), and 
     (l) by striking ``1997'' each place it appears and inserting 
     in lieu thereof ``1998''; and
       (2) in subsection (j)(1), by striking ``$65,000,000'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof $46,000,000''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado, Mr. Dan Schaefer, and the gentleman from Texas Mr. Hall, each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Dan Schaefer.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.
  (Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado asked and was given permission to 
revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 363 extends for a 
period of 1 year the Department of Energy's authorization to conduct 
research on electric and magnetic fields. In 1992 it became clear to 
Congress that there was a need for more research and more coordination 
within this particular area and more public dissemination of the 
information, mainly on the health effects of EMF, and thus the 5-year 
DOE-EMF RAPID program was authorized.
  Since its creation, the RAPID program has added a great deal to our 
understanding on the effects of EMF. Unfortunately, however, the 
authorization to conduct the 5-year EMF RAPID program will expire 
before the program is scheduled to conclude. At the subcommittee 
hearing we learned this is not because the program is behind schedule, 
but because money was not appropriated for the program until after the 
first year's authorization had already passed. We want to now extend 
that authorization for one year to get this concluded in a logical 
manner.

[[Page H1944]]

  Importantly, this program has been cost effective. Industry 
stakeholders have matched the Government dollar for dollar in funding 
this particular program. This has allowed the Government to do more 
with less, a concept which both Republicans and Democrats certainly can 
support. In fact, when the program is concluded, it is expected to cost 
nearly $20 million less than what was originally contemplated. The cost 
to the Federal Government of extending this program another year is 
$4.5 million.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support H.R. 363.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. HALL of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
H.R. 363. It is a bill to reauthorize the Electric and Magnetic Fields 
Research and Public Information Dissemination Program. This important 
5-year program, this very important 5-year program was first authorized 
by Congress in 1992 in response to public concerns about the possible 
adverse health effects of exposure to electric and magnetic fields.
  The program first received appropriations in fiscal year 1994 rather 
than 1993, yet the authorization will expire at the end of this year. 
Now, this reauthorization for fiscal year 1998 is necessary to complete 
the fifth and final year of funding and to fulfill the program's 
original objectives. These objectives are to determine whether or not 
exposure to electric and magnetic fields affects human health, to 
conduct research with respect to technologies to mitigate any adverse 
human health effects, and to disseminate this information to the 
public.
  Without this funding, the risk assessment portion of the program 
would be completed without the research due to be provided in mid-1997. 
More importantly though than that, the National Institute of 
Environmental and Health Sciences, which is conducting this program 
jointly with the Department of Energy, will have to produce risk 
assessment through a closed process rather than through the public 
process currently planned.
  The program's cost will be much less than originally projected. It 
was authorized at $65 million over the 5-year period, but it is now 
projected to cost nearly $20 million less than originally estimated, 
about $46 million. Fifty percent of the funding comes from non-Federal 
sources, including electric utilities, electrical equipment 
manufacturers and realtors. The cost to the Federal Government will be 
$23 million over the 5-year period. Supporters of the reauthorization 
include the American Public Power Association, Edison Electric 
Institute, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and the 
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, among others.
  Mr. Speaker, the program's research is on target and will be 
successfully completed by 1998, at which time the final report will be 
issued concerning potential health effects of exposure to electric and 
magnetic fields. Our citizens are depending on us to give them complete 
and accurate information, and the credibility of the final report would 
be compromised without this 5th and final year of funding.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 363 so that this 
important program can achieve the objectives that Congress intended and 
provide the public with the information they deserve to have.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Sensenbrenner], the chairman of the full 
Committee on Science.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 363 
to amend section 2118 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to extend the 
Electric and Magnetic Fields Research and Public Information 
Dissemination Program.
  This bipartisan bill is designed to fulfill the intent of legislation 
enacted in 1992 to conduct a 5-year research and public information 
dissemination program on the health effects of electric and magnetic 
fields.
  Section 2118 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 directed the Secretary 
of Energy to establish a 5-year, cost-shared program, the EMF RAPID 
Program, starting on October 1, 1992, and expiring on December 31, 
1997. The EMF RAPID Program objectives are: To determine whether or not 
exposure to EMF produced by the generation, transmission, and use of 
electric energy affects human health; to carry out research and 
development and demonstration with respect to technologies to mitigate 
any adverse human health effects; to provide for the dissemination of 
scientifically valid information to the public.
  Under the act, the Department of Energy and the Department of Health 
and Human Services National Environmental Health Sciences Institute are 
jointly responsible for directing the program. DOE has responsibility 
for research, development, and demonstration of technologies to improve 
the measurement and characterization of EMF and for assessing and 
managing exposure to EMF, while NIEHS has sole responsibility for 
research on possible human health effects of EMF. EPACT also authorized 
$65 million for the period encompassing fiscal years 1993 through 1997. 
At least 50 percent of the total authorized funding must come from non-
Federal sources, and before the Federal funds can be expended in any 
fiscal year, they must be matched by non-Federal contributions. In 
addition, not more than $1 million annually may be spent for the 
collection, compilation, publication, and dissemination of 
scientifically valid information.
  The act also established two advisory committees to help guide the 
program: The Electric and Magnetic Fields Interagency Committee, 
composed of 9 members, and the National Electric and Magnetic Fields 
Advisory Committee, a 10-member body.
  Finally, EPACT establishes a number of reporting requirements, 
including the following: By March 31, 1997, the director of NIEHS is to 
report to the Congress and to the agency his or her findings and 
conclusions on the extent to which exposure to EMF affects human 
health.
  Not later than September 30, 1997, the committee, in consultation 
with the other committee, is to report to the Secretary and to Congress 
on its findings and conclusions on the effects, if any, of EMF on human 
health and remedial actions, if any, that may be needed to minimize any 
such health effects.
  Periodically, the National Academy of Sciences is to submit reports 
to both committees that evaluate the research activities under the 
program and to make recommendations to promote the effective transfer 
of information derived from such research projects.
  Although the act authorized the EMF RAPID Program to begin in fiscal 
year 1993, no funds were appropriated because the 1993 energy and water 
development appropriation bill was enacted before EPACT. Consequently, 
the first year of available appropriations was fiscal year 1994. In 
1996, DOE submitted legislation to extend the EPACT authority for the 
EMF Rapid Program through 1998, and former Committee on Science 
Chairman Walker introduced this proposal in the last Congress. However, 
the last Congress adjourned sine die without taking action on the 
measure.
  The President's fiscal year 1998 budget contains $8 million in 
funding for the fifth and final year of the EMF RAPID Program and 
completion of the DOE long-term commitment to EMF research. The 
Department continues to believe the 1-year extension is appropriate in 
the interest of completing the work contemplated by EPACT, and the DOE 
and non-Federal participants testified at a hearing conducted by the 
Committee on Science's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment that a 
total authorization of $46 million will be sufficient to complete the 
5-year effort.
  As amended by the Science Committee, H.R. 363 amends section 2118 of 
the Energy Policy Act of 1992 by extending by 1 year: First, the EMF 
RAPID Program, the Electric and Magnetic Fields Interagency Committee, 
and the National Electric and Magnetic Fields Advisory Committee to 
December 31, 1998; second, the Environmental Health Sciences' report to 
the EMFIAC and to Congress is extended by 1 year, to

[[Page H1945]]

March 31, 1998; and third, the deadline of the EMFIAC's final report to 
the Secretary of Energy and to Congress is extended by 1 year, to 
September 30, 1998.
  Finally, the bill, as amended, reduces the EMF RAPID Program 5-year 
authorization from $65 to $46 million, consistent with the testimony by 
DOE and the non-Federal participants on the funding requirements needed 
to complete the program.
  In closing, I wish to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Calvert], the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment of 
the Committee on Science, and the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Roemer], 
the subcommittee's ranking member, for their hard work on this 
legislation. I would also like to thank the Committee on Science's 
ranking member, the gentleman from California [Mr. Brown], for his 
bipartisan support.
  I also want to commend the efforts of the gentleman from Virginia, 
[Mr. Bliley], chairman of the Committee on Commerce; the gentleman from 
Michigan, [Mr. Dingell], the ranking member of the Committee on 
Commerce; the gentleman from Colorado, [Mr. Dan Schaefer], chairman of 
the Committee on Commerce's Subcommittee on Energy and Power, the 
gentleman from Texas, [Mr. Hall], the subcommittee's ranking member; 
and also the gentleman. from New York [Mr. Towns], the bill's author, 
for their work on this legislation.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Brown], the ranking member on the Committee on 
Science, and a very venerable former chairman of Science, Space, and 
Technology.
  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, what did the gentleman call me? 
Venerable?
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 363, which provides a 1-year 
extension with no extra funding to the electromagnetic field and health 
effects research and development bill and information dissemination 
program with the Department of Energy.

                              {time}  1530

  As we heard from testimony before the Subcommittee on Energy and 
Environment of the Committee on Science on March 19 of this year, this 
5-year program seeks to clarify the risks to public health posed by 
electromagnetic fields.
  Mr. Speaker, in an effort to be brief, I would just point out that 
other speakers have already indicated the adverse effects of 
terminating this program 1 year before it is completed. I certainly 
join in my own feelings with regard to that.
  The issue of health effects of electromagnetic fields, such as those 
created by high voltage electric lines, was a very highly emotional and 
politically potent issue a number of years ago, and it was this 
increasing public concern that led to the original enactment of this 
legislation. Families that live near such high voltage lines have 
wondered whether their children are at greater risk for contracting 
leukemia or a host of other maladies, and there has been research 
conducted, some of it in other countries, in Europe, for example, which 
lent credence to the possibility that such might be the case.
  The issue, therefore, had to be put to rest with an authoritative and 
complete research program which would deal with that issue, and that is 
what this program has done. It has accomplished its goal so far well 
under budget and ahead of schedule, and we think it deserves to move 
ahead to completion.
  I am also glad to say that the Committee on Science has been able to 
move expeditiously on this bill in a bipartisan manner, and this is due 
in large part to the efforts of the subcommittee chairman, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Calvert], and to the ranking member of 
the subcommittee, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Roemer], as well as 
to the efforts of the full committee chairman, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin [Mr. Sensenbrenner], whose efforts as chairman I have 
commended on previous occasions and I will continue to do so.
  I have enjoyed working with each of them as well as other members of 
the committee and they enjoy my highest respect.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from New York [Mr. Towns].
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado 
[Mr. Schaefer] and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Hall] and the 
Committee on Science. I know that they have made a special effort to 
move this bill as an early priority. Since the authorization expires at 
the end of 1997, the program will terminate after 4 years instead of 
the 5-year period originally envisioned.
  The need for the extension is plain and very clear. It will ensure 
that the original program's objectives set by Congress are met and 
enhance the credibility of the RAPID final report regarding potential 
human health aspects of exposure to electric and magnetic fields.
  During consideration of H.R. 363, the Committee on Commerce received 
testimony from industry stakeholders who all agreed that a 1-year 
extension was necessary to complete the risk assessment through an 
open, public workshop approach that was originally planned by the 
National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences.
  Upon completion of the 5-year study, a final report to Congress on 
the electromagnetic field effects, if any, on human health will be 
submitted. The report will allow the Federal Government to confidently 
speak to the American people with one voice on this very important 
issue. Anything less than a 1-year extension would render the study 
incomplete and jeopardize the credibility developed over the last 4 
years with EMF issue stakeholders and the public as well.
  The RAPID Program has been very successful to date. In addition to 
the research initiated, the program has distributed 180,000 copies of 
questions and answers about electric and magnetic fields associated 
with the use of electric power to the public. Additionally, RAPID has 
published EMF in the work force and EMF InfoLine, managed by the 
Environmental Protection Agency and funded by the RAPID Program. It has 
also responded to the thousands of calls from the general public.
  The program conducts research jointly with the Department of Energy 
and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and is 
funded equally by the annual appropriations and matching contributions 
from the electric utilities, electrical equipment manufacturers, and 
realtors.
  This 1-year extension has the support of the administration, Congress 
and the industry stakeholders such as the Edison Electric Institute, 
the American Public Power Association, the National Rural Electric 
Cooperative Association, and the National Electrical Manufacturers 
Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to again thank all of the participants in 
making this possible. I would like to thank the subcommittee chairman, 
and of course the ranking member as well, and all of the staff that 
worked very hard to move this legislation very quickly.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 363, which 
provides a 1-year extension, with no extra funding, to the 
electromagnetic fields and health effects R&D and information-
dissemination program at the Department of Energy. As we heard in March 
19, 1997, in testimony before the Subcommittee on Energy and 
Environment, this 5-year program seeks to clarify the risks to public 
health posed by electromagnetic fields.
  The authorization for this program currently ends in 1997--5 years 
after passage of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. However, with this 
termination date, the program will have actually had only 4 years to 
complete its tasks, because, through no fault of its own, the program 
began a year late due to the logistics of the budget cycle.
  If the program were to terminate at the end of fiscal year 1997, 
important tasks assigned to the program by the Energy Policy Act of 
1992 would go undone. With a 1-year extension, however, these essential 
functions will be completed and presented to the public in a concise 
manner.
  As many Members are well aware, the issue of the health effects of 
exposure to electromagnetic fields, such as those created by electric 
high wires, have been controversial and emotional issues. Families that 
live near such wires have wondered whether their children are at 
greater risk for contracting leukemia or a host of other maladies. And, 
unfortunately as is often the case with research, the answers have been 
a long time coming, and have wrought their own controversies at times.

[[Page H1946]]

  As directed by the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the Department of 
Energy has nevertheless pursued a complete airing of the issues in an 
open process that solicits public opinion and lets any expert challenge 
the results of their work. Learning from past mistakes, the Energy 
Policy Act required that the data and final analysis be shared in order 
to gain the trust and confidence of the public. Without this openness, 
the study would be just another Government study over which opposing 
factions bicker.
  In fact, just such a closed study was recently completed by the 
National Academy of Sciences, and it found no credible evidence for a 
significant public health threat due to exposure to electromagnetic 
fields. While I fully respect the work of the academy and this study 
did reassure many of us, skeptics remain concerned with these results 
and their views also need to be considered in a public forum.
  As promised in the Energy Policy Act, the EMF program at DOE will 
provide such a forum and analyze the opinions of skeptics and 
mainstream researchers alike. I look forward to the results of this 
work, and I think that it is an important step in public understanding 
of these health risks.
  I am also glad to say that the Committee on Science has been able to 
move expeditiously on this bill in a bipartisan manner. This is due, in 
large part, to the efforts of the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Calvert, 
and the full committee chairman and ranking member, Mr. Sensenbrenner 
and Mr. Brown. I have enjoyed working with each of them, as well as the 
other members of the committee, and they enjoy my highest respect.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Commerce 
Committee for yielding me this time.
  I also thank the chairman of the Committee on Science and the ranking 
member, Mr. Brown, for their support in expediting passage of this 
bill.
  As Chairman Sensenbrenner has pointed out, this bill will allow the 
Electric and Magnetic Fields research program to complete its original 
5-year authorization. At the same time, we will save the taxpayers 
money by reducing the authorization some $19 million to the $46-
million-agreed-upon budget for the program. I should add that 50 
percent of this budget is cost-shared by industry.
  Mr. Speaker, at the time of the markup of this bill in the Energy and 
Environment Subcommittee, the distinguished vice-chairman of the full 
Science Committee, Mr. Ehlers, made the point that all the research to 
date on this issue has failed to find a significant link between 
electric and magnetic fields and serious health problems. I agree and I 
doubt that will change.
  Nevertheless, this program was agreed to by both Government and 
industry to put to rest public concern and, once started, I think it's 
worth finishing.
  Finally, I want to particularly thank my friend from Indiana, our 
ranking minority member of the subcommittee, Mr. Roemer, for 
cosponsoring this bill and working closely with us to expedite the 
process. Mr. Speaker, this bill has strong bipartisan support and I 
urge its passage. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Snowbarger). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Dan Schaefer, that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 363, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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