[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 97 (Thursday, July 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998

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                               speech of

                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1119) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, for 
     military activities of the Department of Defense, to 
     prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal years 1998 
     and 1999, and for other purposes:

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Chairman, I rise alongside my colleagues from the 
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee in strong support 
of the amendment to H.R. 1119 offered by my good friend, Mr. 
Frelinghuysen.
  Mr. Chairman, the Delaware Bay, which stretches across the width of 
the second district, is a high-traffic area for tankers transiting to 
and from Philadelphia. From Cape May Point, watching the tankers on the 
horizon, I am reminded that a disaster like the Exxon Valdez spill 
could happen again at any time--so I am thankful for the much-needed 
safeguards put in motion by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 [OPA 90]
  The double hull provisions in OPA 90 were created expressly for the 
purpose of preventing another disaster like the Valdez spill. Anyone 
who doubts the wisdom of these requirements should visit the bayside 
communities in the second district. It would be plain to see the amount 
of wildlife and coastal vegetation that would be affected by a spill is 
too staggering to comprehend. Commercial and recreational fishermen who 
rely on the Delaware Bay would face certain losses as well.
  That is why I strongly object to shippers attempting to remeasure or 
reduce their vessels' gross tonnage in order to evade the double hull 
requirements. Each year that owners or operators extend the life of 
older vessels only increases the chance of a disastrous hull breach. 
Mr. Chairman, we can close this loophole in OPA 90 now, or agonize over 
why we did not after the next spill occurs.
  While I am a strong supporter of American cabotage, and believe that 
international shipping is vital to the commerce of the United States, 
we cannot have shippers abusing the law. Mr. Frelinghuysen's amendment 
is a commonsense improvement, and I urge its support to all my 
colleagues.

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