[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 31, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 27, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2620) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
     Housing and Urban Development and for sundry independent 
     agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support for the 
Bonior-Waxman-Obey-Brown (OH)-Kildee amendment. I don't think there is 
one person out there in America who, if asked, would state a preference 
for dangerous levels of arsenic in their drinking water. The Republican 
majority and President Bush clearly haven't asked the American public 
or just don't care because tougher protections from arsenic are long 
overdue.
  In 1996, the Congress instructed EPA to update the Arsenic standard 
of 50 parts per billion no later than January of 2001.
  In 1999, the National Academy of Sciences, after years of research, 
found that the old arsenic standard of 50 ppb for drinking water ``does 
not achieve EPA's goal for public health protection and, therefore, 
requires downward revision as promptly as possible.''
  Finally, in January 2001, after decades of public comment, debate, 
and millions of dollars of research, EPA issued the new standard of 10 
ppb--which was considered a compromise proposal.
  In April I released the results of a study that was conducted by 
Congressman Waxman's staff on the Government Reform Committee. The 
report was focused on Illinois and warned that the health of thousands 
of Illinois residents is at risk since their drinking water contains 
unacceptable levels of arsenic. The report showed that as many as 
134,000 people in Illinois in almost 60 communities are drinking water 
that contains arsenic levels above the standard of 20 parts per billion 
(ppb).
  Science has proven that arsenic is a carcinogen and it is deadly--it 
causes cancer, birth defects, and cardiovascular disease. What more 
evidence does President Bush need to get it out of our water? I've been 
a consumer rights advocate for a long time and in public office for ten 
years, and until now, I've never met a so-called leader so eager to do 
so little for public health.
  Thanks to the deep pockets of President Bush's mining and chemical 
industry friends, the United States has the same arsenic drinking water 
standard as Bangladesh at 50 ppb. This Administration is willing to 
risk the health of millions to pay back the special interests and it is 
time we put a stop to it.
  I urge all members to support this important amendment to prohibit 
EPA funds from being used to weaken the arsenic standard.

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