[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E571-E572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             EARTH DAY 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 13, 2000

  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, this morning a number of my Republican 
colleagues and I held a national press conference in advance of Earth 
Day to release a list we call the ``TR 10.'' The TR 10 is a package of 
moderate Republican initiatives named after our hero, Theodore 
Roosevelt. The bills included are Republican initiatives that have 
bipartisan support that ought to be enacted this year, and that could 
be enacted this year. This is our second annual TR 10 list, the last 
one was released with the late Senator John Chafee of Rhode Island, 
another hero of ours.
  As with last Earth Day, the release of this list is designed to make 
several points beyond bringing additional attention to good 
legislation. First, the environment always has been, and remains, a 
bipartisan issue, a bipartisan quest--an issue on which Republicans are 
offering creative and essential leadership. Second, there are plenty of 
good initiatives out there, there is plenty of progress we can make 
right now, even in a narrowly divided Congress.
  There's a cliche around this town that nothing gets done during an 
election year, especially nothing related to the environment. But 
unlike most cliches, this one has no basis in fact. In 1996, an 
election year, the 104th Congress--not one known for its green cast--
passed the Food Quality Protection Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and 
a massive parks bill, to name just a few landmarks. Similarly, this 
year, we could pass CARA and numerous other significant bills. 
Elections are more often a spur to action than a barrier to it.
  So the approach of Earth Day in this election year should fill us 
with hope and optimism because we are well positioned to make real 
progress.

         THE TR 10: A REPUBLICAN AGENDA FOR THE 106TH CONGRESS

       (1) The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA, H.R. 701)

       We support the passage of CARA, preferably with the 
     amendment being drafted by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.). 
     The bill would provide permanent, off-budget funding of the 
     LWCF, which provides financing to protect open spaces at the 
     federal and state level. Republicans, led by Chairman Don 
     Young (R-Alaska), are pushing for this landmark change in 
     federal lands policy, which would spend almost $3 billion on 
     conservation programs. The Boehlert amendment

[[Page E572]]

     would make the distribution of funding more equitable and 
     would ensure that the bill accomplishes its environmental 
     purposes.

 (2) Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA)/Everglades Restoration

       We support the authorization of environmentally friendly 
     flood control and water projects, particularly work to 
     restore the Everglades. Such projects are expected to be 
     included in the WRDA bill, which will be drafted by the House 
     Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, chaired by 
     Congressman Boehlert. Boehlert is also heading up an effort 
     to increase funding for water infrastructure by beefing up 
     the state revolving funds under the Clean Water Act.

            (3) Environmentally Sound Electric Deregulation

       We support efforts to ensure that electric deregulation 
     benefits the environment. Done properly, electric 
     deregulation can improve the environment while lowering 
     utility rates. But deregulation must include provisions to 
     limit emissions from coal plants and to encourage the use of 
     renewable sources of energy. Congressmen Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.), 
     Jim Greenwood (R-Pa.) and Sherry Boehlert are leading the 
     effort to ensure that such provisions are included in any 
     legislation to reduce limits on sulfur dioxide and nitrogen 
     oxides to prevent acid rain. Boehlert is also pressing to 
     control all four utility pollutants.

              (4) Credit for Voluntary Action (H.R. 2520)

       We support Congressman Rick Lazio's bill to create credits 
     for companies that are reducing emissions of greenhouse 
     gases. Credits would encourage voluntary reductions in 
     greenhouse gas emissions and could be used as part of any 
     future regulatory regime.

  (5) Beaches Environmental Assessment, Clean Up and Health Act (H.R. 
                                  999)

       We support legislation to ensure that our coastal waters do 
     not pose a health threat to bathers, boaters and surfers. 
     This bill, introduced by Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA) and 
     approved by the House, would require states to update their 
     water quality standards to protect human health in coastal 
     recreation waters. The bill would provide grants to states to 
     implement the program.

    (6) The Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act (H.R. 1775)

       We support legislation introduced by Rep. Wayne Gilchrest 
     (R-Md.) that would restore and protect our nation's 
     estuaries, which harbor ecosystems that are vital to 
     environmental health and the fishing industry.

         (7) The Long Island Sound Restoration Act (H.R. 3313)

       We support legislation, introduced by Reps. Nancy Johnson 
     (R-Conn.) and Rick Lazio, which would authorize additional 
     funds to clean up the pollution in the Long Island Sound, a 
     critical estuary and one of the nation's most populous 
     coastal areas. The bill addresses the non-point source 
     pollution that may be causing the dramatic decreases in 
     lobster and other shellfish populations in the Sound.

          (8) Promoting cleaner, more efficient transportation

       We support efforts to promote fuel efficiency and to reduce 
     auto emissions. Congressmen Boehlert and Jim Greenwood are 
     circulating a letter, urging the President to work with the 
     congress to tighten Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) 
     standards for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs). In addition, 
     Congressman Brian Bilbray has a bill (H.R. 1976) requiring 
     labeling on automobiles so that consumers know the emission 
     levels of the cars they are purchasing.

               (9) Promoting alternative-fueled vehicles

       We support efforts to promote alternative-fueled vehicles. 
     As part of AIR-21, the President signed into a law a measure 
     introduced by Congressman Boehlert that will provide grants 
     for airports in non-attainment areas to purchase clean 
     vehicles, such as natural gas and hybrid-electric buses. This 
     builds on alternative fuel vehicle programs that were 
     included in ``TEA-21.'' Boehlert also worked with the U.S. 
     Postal Service, Ford Motor Co. and Baker Electromotive to 
     engineer the largest purchase of electric vehicles in 
     history--up to 6,000 vehicles. Additional bills are being 
     drafted to help more municipalities purchase clean vehicles.

            (10) Superfund Reform/Brownfields Redevelopment

       We support broad Superfund reform that will eliminate 
     needless litigation that has delayed the clean-up of 
     Superfund sites and prevented the redevelopment of 
     brownfields. Superfund must have a rational liability system 
     that exempts small businesses that contributed little to 
     Superfund sites and must facilitate the redevelopment of 
     brownfields, which are a blight in so many of our cities. One 
     moderate approach to this bill is embodied in Congressman 
     Boehlert's H.R. 1300, the Recycle America's Land Act, which 
     has support from a wide range of groups including the 
     National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Conference 
     of Mayors, and the National Federation of Independent 
     Business.

     

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