[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 11, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PROPOSED EPA OZONE AND PARTICULATE MATTER STANDARDS

  (Mr. GOODE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the 1990 Clean Air Act 
amendments, America's air quality has improved and those improvements 
are continuing. Yet after industries have expended billions of dollars, 
and even before the improvements that will result have been fully 
realized, America's economy faces additional regulation.
  Mr. Speaker, now is not the time to burden America's economy further. 
An example is an industry that provides employment to nearly 9,000 men 
and women in the Fifth District of Virginia. Over a year and a half 
period, the wood furniture and related industries engaged in a 
negotiated rulemaking with the EPA, the American Lung Association, the 
Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, and others.
  The rulemaking resulted in an agreement that would cost the industry 
an estimated half billion dollars and would substantially reduce smog-
causing emissions and title 3 pollutants. Mr. Speaker, the agency 
called this process a credit to industry, environmental and 
governmental cooperation. But almost before the ink was dry, the agency 
was back proposing more burdensome regulations that their own 
scientific advisory committee cannot agree will have significant health 
and environmental benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that there are many of us here who are willing to 
work for standards based on quality science and health and 
environmental benefits--but not these regulations and not at this time.

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