Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Chapman].

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Davis].

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Barton]. (Mr. BARTON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this is a very, very significant vote. I would like to dispel the underlying assumption that those Members who have risen in opposition to this proposal are opposed to clean drinking water or they do not want the air to be clean. Mr. Chairman, one of the most important things that ever happened in my life in public affairs was in the late 1960's when the country discovered the word ``environment.'' We began a movement to progressively move in the direction of improving our air and doing something about clean water. The EPA came out of some of that work. But the reality is, over the years this agency has gone to such excess that today we are losing public support for that important environmental movement. I was the chairman of an air quality committee in California. In that capacity I was the author of the toughest environmental laws in the country relating to air. I wrote the legislation that created what is recognized as the leading agency in terms of air quality in the country. At the same time, I had to deal with the EPA and its constant process of developing regulations beyond the law, its willingness to put regulation on top of regulation for the sake of it. It is now time for us to step back and insist that this agency get its act together and reflect the will of the people and the will of the Congress. Otherwise, Mr. Chairman, we are going to lose all of the support that we have developed over these years for significant and important environmental law. That is why, ladies and gentlemen, we have this list of people and organizations strongly opposing this amendment today, the following groups: the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Association of Counties, the National Association of [[Page H 7954]] Flood and Storm Water Managers, people who are concerned about flood and storm waters, the National League of Cities, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the American Farm Bureau Federal Federation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Concerned Citizens for Property Rights, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Realtors, the National Rural Electrical Cooperative Association. And the list goes on. But we have an agency, the EPA, out of control. Ladies and gentlemen, the language in this bill comes with the support of virtually all of the chairmen of the committees of jurisdiction. Without any doubt, we are moving in the direction of attempting to send a clear message to EPA. It is time for us to redirect this agency so it makes sense, so the public can once again support this very important work.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I say to the gentlewoman that the committee has long been concerned about the VA's resource methodologies, and knows that Florida's veterans have long been frustrated about uneven access to VA care, particularly in contrast to the ease with which they received VA care in other parts of the country.

Mr. LEWIS of California. The gentlewoman is correct.

Mr. LEWIS of California. No, Mr. Chairman. I withdraw my reservation of a point of order.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Bliley], the chairman of the Committee on Commerce. [[Page H 7936]] (Mr. BLILEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young], chairman of the Committee on Resources. (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. If the gentleman would yield further, I certainly would not want to overstate the case, but it is very apparent that a number of Members have been suggesting we need further legislation relative to agencies that would use federal funds for lobbying purposes. I am not sure how I could exactly describe this one, but it is very apparent that this is an agency that believes it should do whatever is necessary to have its view be reflected in our law and our work regardless of how the Members may feel.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. McIntosh].

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas].

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas [Mr. Roberts], the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. DeLay], the majority whip.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Walsh], a member of the committee.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. DeLay], the majority whip.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I am opposed to the amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston], the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations. (Mr. LIVINGSTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle].

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Sensenbrenner], the chairman of the subcommittee dealing with NASA's budget.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Chapman].

Mr. LEWIS of California. That is my understanding, and I very much appreciate the gentlewoman's raising these questions to this level of concern. [[Page H 7956]]

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume to jut make a fundamental point regarding this amendment. Mr. Chairman, it is very appealing to have language in an amendment that says that the agency shall be able to protect humans against exposure to arsenic, benzene, dioxin, lead or any other carcinogen. The problem is while it is very simple and very straightforward and obviously not deceiving, there are trace minerals of that kind in any variety of materials that might be disposed of by a variety of technologies. This language says that when it becomes known to a Federal official, that there's a trace of arsenic, suddenly we give this agency leave to do anything they want to do in spite of Federal direction. It is a very, very serious amendment that goes way beyond what this simple language would suggest. It is a desire on the part of a few to give EPA a free hand in a subject area that could have dramatic effect upon our economy. Further, it is designed in no small part to give a bigger share of the marketplace to a certain kind of process relating to getting rid of some kind of toxic wastes versus another piece of the marketplace that has another technology. To say the least, this is a serious amendment. I want the whole House to have an opportunity to consider this amendment. At this point in time, Mr. Chairman, I am not sure we have enough time today to accomplish that. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Barton].