[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 47 (Monday, April 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REDUCING REGULATORY BURDENS ACT OF 2011

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                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 30, 2011

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose H.R. 872, the 
Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act.
  Today, Congress could have had a legitimate and necessary debate 
about the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). 
Does FIFRA do an adequate job of regulating pesticides or should the 
Clean Water Act supplement these efforts to address water quality 
issues? But that is not the debate we are having today.
  Instead, the Republican majority is forcing a vote to ban the EPA 
from ever applying the Clean Water Act to pesticides discharges into 
our Nation's waters. H.R. 872 removes a critical tool the EPA may need 
to protect public health and it weakens America's most important clean 
water legislation.
  This is a deceptive piece of legislation. Proponents claim H.R. 872 
merely eliminates a duplicative bureaucratic process for pesticide 
application. In fact, if passed, H.R. 872 could permanently stop our 
ability to control and manage pesticide pollution found in America's 
rivers, lakes and streams.
  H.R. 872 would reverse a 2009 court decision. That decision found 
that the use of some pesticides and herbicides at times is a form of 
water pollution requiring a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (NPDES) permit. Across the country, over a thousand waterways 
are known to be ``impaired'' or polluted because of pesticides. Many 
more waters may be polluted but have not even been tested. In my home 
State of Minnesota--land of 10,000 lakes--a past U.S. Geological Survey 
study concluded that pesticides in rivers and streams in central 
Minnesota were ``ubiquitous.'' Endocrine disruptors possibly linked to 
the use of pesticides have led to the rise of mutating fish in the 
Mississippi River and 11 Minnesota lakes.
  Pesticide pollution in American waters is a problem that requires 
close review. I believe EPA is doing its job, as determined by the 
courts, to investigate and attempt to reduce harmful pesticide 
discharges into water bodies. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 
has told my office that they are working diligently to implement the 
federal court decision and the EPA's permitting efforts. I am concerned 
that H.R. 872 would stop state pollution control agencies across the 
country from their important work of regulating pesticide chemicals in 
our water.
  Moreover, H.R. 872 is being rushed to passage with little debate. It 
is being considered under suspension of the rules, a procedure usually 
reserved for non-controversial bills. Opposing witnesses were not 
allowed to testify during committee hearings and the Republican 
majority broke its promises to work with members who had offered and 
then withdrawn amendments in committee. This is no way to consider a 
bill that has serious consequences for human health, wildlife and the 
environment.
  Instead of tying EPA's hands, Congress should be encouraging, even 
pressing, the EPA to address water pollution that is threatening the 
health of our families and ecosystems. I oppose H.R. 872 and the 
overreaching effort to rush this bill through the legislative process.

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