EARTH DAY 2000 -- HON. SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT (Extensions of Remarks - April 13, 2000)

[Page: E571]
---

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.

END