Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word and to essentially express some slight reservation, because this item is in the courts. The ninth circuit is currently in the process of considering an appeal. On the other hand, the House did adopt this matter on a voice vote last year. I frankly think the committee would not have any reservation about this going forward and we would be willing, after some more discussion takes place, to accept it if my ranking member would do the same.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate my colleague from California yielding, and I appreciate very much the way the gentleman from California, as well as the gentleman from West Virginia, are dealing with this issue today. There is little doubt that the House needs to clarify what is not occurring as a result of both the Congress and the administration's past directions. The problem is a very real problem that faces the entire country and, indeed, the Hazardous Chemical Safety Board should not be in the midst of this, and I look forward to working with the gentlemen who are effectively concerned about the issue and appreciate the manner in which they are handling it today.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate the gentleman bringing this to my attention one more time and in doing so representing his district so well. I thank the gentleman for his remarks and pledge to work with him on the issue as we move through the conference with the Senate. I might add further, for the Members, the amendment pending is supported by the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes] and me. It will be passed by a voice vote, and following that I believe we will get to the end of the title and have a series of votes at that point in time.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. I look forward to working with the gentleman.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, upon arriving in Congress, I was privileged to join my colleague in sponsoring legislation that would lead to the development of alternative fuel sources for automobiles. Indeed, we are both committed to this subject area. However, I would say to the gentleman from California [Mr. Waxman] that I think he knows that I am among those who now are concerned that we make absolutely certain that we move along a pathway that is based upon sound science, particularly as it relates to people's health. That has to be our priority. But indeed, at this moment I am concerned about the kind of information flows that are coming between the Environmental Protection Agency, the administration, and the Congress. The gentleman has taken some steps, I believe, to help improve that communication. Some of those channels opened just recently. I appreciate that. But it is most important to me that we not take steps without sound science if those steps would lead to undermining the credibility our past clean air efforts have developed. It is a very delicate moment. I certainly do not join those who are bringing the entire roof down as a result of every proposal, but in the meantime, that is why we have this funding in here for outside research by NIEHS to develop sound science and continued scientific work. So I appreciate continuing to work with the gentleman.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate my colleague yielding. He and I have worked together regarding clean air matters for many a decade, and indeed, in the California Legislature we worked on the establishment of what is the toughest air quality management district in the country.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. The expression of concern by the gentleman is very important, and I know a concern is felt on both sides of the aisle. If there is a classic illustration of important public policy decisions having little to do with partisan politics, this is one of them. While we have provided funding for additional scientific research, as I have suggested, monitoring and collection of data is very important as well, and the gentleman should know that there is an additional $25 million to help those States, especially the rural States, to participate in that work as well.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. The gentleman from Illinois is correct. There is a need for this sort of continued and ongoing careful research, and further, I can say that there are additional funds available above and beyond the Presidential request. There are some $40 million, $35 million of those for PM standard evaluation and the balance for ozone. My concerns are very similar to the gentleman's and, if he would continue to yield, let me say that by way of background the gentleman from California [Mr. Brown] and I share one of the most heavily impacted areas in the country in terms of problems with air quality. We have spent considerable time attempting to implement past regulations and, indeed, are having an effect upon air quality in the southland. I cannot tell my colleague whether we need additional, more difficult regulations or not, but I am very much convinced that there is a need for a better base of scientific work, and thereby I very much appreciate the gentleman's comments.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. The Members will be having a voice vote later on the amendment that the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes] and I support. Announcement By The Chairman

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I am happy it enter into this colloquy with the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] regarding a very important matter. Her discussion and concern goes to the heart of how we got to one- for-one replacement in the first place, because there was a time in the country where we absolutely needed, to make certain when any public housing unit was taken out of the marketplace that it was replaced. A combination of things have occurred over time involving the fact that in some cases there was a shortage of capital, in other cases just plain bureaucratic problems. We found ourselves not tearing down old and dilapidated facilities and instead boarding up windows. In the instance of my colleague, she has a special circumstance that reflects that original difficulty. I very much appreciate her concern, and indeed I am committed to trying to help her respond to the needs of her community. So I appreciate the point very much, and I look forward to working with my colleague.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. If the gentleman would continue to yield, I look forward to working with the gentleman further. And the answer is, yes.

Mr. LEWIS of California. If the gentleman would continue to yield, first let my say that I appreciate the gentleman bringing this matter to my attention. I have a special appreciation for his concern about a report that involves each region. Indeed, I appreciate his bringing it to my attention, And I look forward to working with the gentleman.

Mr. LEWIS of California. That is correct, that moneys under the Clean Lakes Program can be allocated to section 314 programs.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. If the gentleman will yield further, it is clear that NASA needs to seize upon this opportunity to utilize this important spacecraft. I will work this conference to include language instructing NASA to incorporate the midcourse space experiment into the Mission Planet Earth Program. I must say further to the gentleman that I do not pretend to have the expertise that the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Bartlett] has, let alone NASA has, in this subject area. But, indeed, the gentleman has piqued my attention, as well as my interest, and I look forward to working with the gentleman.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman has discussed this matter with me personally, and there is little question that MSX represents an opportunity for NASA to incorporate an already constructed spacecraft into the Mission to Planet Earth. I believe NASA should pursue every opportunity available for cost savings in an area of great budget difficulty, and MSX represents just that type of opportunity.