[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 15, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H4231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EPA UNDERMINING EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE ECONOMIES OF OUR INNER CITIES

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, the EPA is the gang that cannot shoot 
straight. This Agency's mishandling of the so-called environmental 
justice issue has undermined the efforts to revitalize the economies of 
our inner cities and hurt the very people it intended to help.
  Last year, I included language in the budget that forced the EPA to 
go back to the drawing board to formulate a more workable policy that 
addresses the concerns expressed by State and local officials and 
business leaders from across this country. Mr. Speaker, the EPA has 
still not come forward with its new proposal. This, I believe, is 
inexcusable, and it is time for this arrogant, heavy-handed Agency to 
get its act together. Further delays and additional foot-dragging will 
only hinder the efforts to redevelop brownfields and create good-paying 
jobs in minority communities.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time the EPA finally gets its act together and 
comes to a final resolution on this issue.

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