S6642 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 12, 1995

COATS AMENDMENT NO. 1077

Mr. COATS proposed an amendment

to the bill, S. 534, supra; as follows:

On page 52, between lines 10 and 11 insert

the following:

‘‘SEC. 102. NEEDS DETERMINATION.

The Governor of a State may accept, deny

or modify an application for a municipal

solid waste management facility permit if—

‘‘(1) it is done in a manner that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this section;

‘‘(2) a State law enacted in 1990 and a regulation adopted by the Governor in 1991 specifically requires the permit applicant to

demonstrate that there is a local or regional

need within the State for the facility; and

‘‘(3) the permit applicant fails to demonstrate that there is a local or regional

need within the State for the facility.’’.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

fCONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY

COMMISSION CUTBACKS A THREAT

∑ Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, on behalf of my colleague, Senator JOHNSTON and myself, I ask that an article

printed in the New Orleans Times-Picayune be printed in the CONGRESSIONAL

RECORD.

We found the discussion of the U.S.

Consumer Product Safety Commission

very interesting and wanted to share

these informative comments with our

colleagues.

The article follows:

CUTBACKS TO CPSC THREATEN US ALL

Today in Washington, D.C., the U.S.

Consumer Product Safety Commission is

conducting a conference titled ‘‘Safety

Sells.’’ The one-day event features business

executives who will ‘‘highlight product safety as an emerging business trend.’’

In a press release describing the event, the

commission said executives from Toys R Us,

Hasbro Inc., Proctor & Gamble Co. and Volvo

‘‘will discuss how they have improved their

competitive positions by selling safety.’’

In the case of Volvo, that’s certainly true.

Its promotions appeal to the growing number

of car buyers, who intelligently shop for

safer cars, armed with Consumer Reports or

the ‘‘Car Book,’’ by Jack Gillis.

But toys? There are no books or magazines

that list the safe ones and the dangerous

ones to avoid. And the steady infusion of imported toys, made in countries that do not

have safety standards as rigid as ours, routinely pass undetected through customs, filling the marketplace with unsafe products for

children.

We’re talking about toys with excessive

amounts of lead or small parts that can

choke children, bunk beds that fall apart,

etc. Their existence is why a significant portion of this column is routinely given to

warning readers about recalls.

Imported toys can be bought cheaply and

sold at huge profits. And even if there’s a recall, the companies know that most buyers

will never find out about it and, therefore,

their profits will remain high.

One of our best defenses against unsafe

products is the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the only federal agency that

identifies and acts on a wide range of product safety hazards, from toys to bikes to

household products.

Unfortunately, the current trend for ‘‘less

government interference’’ could seriously

undermine the commission’s much-needed

work if it results in additional cutbacks to

this important consumer watchdog. If that

were to happen, the only beneficiary would

be the corporations that profit from unsafe

products.

During the Reagan administration, the

commission’s budget and staff were cut in

half. Then, as now, it operates on a $42-million annual budget—not much for a major

federal agency that addresses the hazards in

our lives. Consider these facts from the commission:

Unintentional injury is the leading cause

of death among people under 45 years old and

is the fourth leading cause of death in the

nation.

More children die from injuries than from

diseases.

There are 21,700 deaths and 28.6 million injuries each year related to consumer products under commission jurisdiction.

The deaths, injuries and property damage

associated with consumer products cost the

nation about $200 billion annually. Consumer

product injuries account for one out of every

six hospital days in this country.

The commission is the only agency addressing product safety and health hazards

for more than 15,000 consumer products.

What’s more, the money used to support

the commission gives an excellent return.

Every dangerous product removed from the

marketplace prevents an increase in the national health care bill.

On the local level, I have nothing but high

praises for Sonny Sturdivant and Sidney

Englander, the CPSC field inspectors, who

are invaluable sources of help for this column and to the residents in this area.

If potential cutbacks to the commission

worry you, as it does me, you may want to

contact your representatives in Washington

and let your feelings be known.

f∑

COMMEMORATING THE 47TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL’S INDEPENDENCE

∑ Mr. BRADLEY. Mr. President, I rise

today to mark a joyous event, the

founding of the State of Israel on May

14, 1948. From its near-miraculous beginnings as a country born in strife, Israel enters its 48th year a prosperous

and vigorous democracy.

With the hyperinflation of the 1980’s

a distant memory, Israel enjoys stable

economic growth with moderate inflation. Israel’s economic problems are

now the challenges of any developed

country—generating and distributing

wealth. As the circle of peace in the region expands, Israel will find itself

well-placed to be a major regional economic power.

Israel has renewed itself as the homeland of the Jewish people by successfully managing its latest ‘‘aliyah,’’ the

absorption of Jews from the Soviet

Union and its successor states. Both

the infusion of new blood, and the national effort to welcome and absorb

over half a million new citizens has reinvigorated the nation, while educating

a new generation on the special responsibilities and benefits of life in Israel.

Among the greatest of those responsibilities and benefits is the nurturing

of a democracy that is the envy, not

only of the Middle East, but of the

world. To an extent perhaps matched

only by the United States, Israel has

welded diverse peoples into a democratic society. Israel understands the

lesson so eloquently taught by former

Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek that

democracy is more than elections. Democracy is a way of thinking, a way of

acting and, most of all, a way of treating one’s neighbor. The world has much

to learn from Israel’s successful experiment in representative democracy in

an often harsh environment.

Israel marks its 47th birthday closer

to lasting peace than ever before. As a

result of the warm peace with Jordan,

Israelis are finally visiting the legendary red rocks at Petra. As a result of

the multilateral peace negotiations, Israel is normalizing relations with Arab

states in North Africa and the Persian

Gulf.

Israel is also inching closer to peace

with its Palestinian and Syrian neighbors. However, as Israelis above all

peoples understand, peace never comes

cheaply, and Israel is facing a historic

challenge as it tries to conclude genuine peace in the face of terrorism.

All of us grieve with Israel every

time another terrorist atrocity is perpetrated. All of us pray with Israel

that the leaders and peoples of the Middle East, and those of us who support

them, will find the wisdom to steer a

path through the shoals of violence to

a lasting peace.

The United States Government and

individual Americans have an important role to play in supporting Israel,

its people, and its leadership, in making the hard decisions necessary for

peace. I am proud of the record of the

United States Senate in providing

unstinting support of Israel, and I will

be proud to continue that record.

I am particularly proud of the contributions of citizens of my own State

of New Jersey to Israel’s development.

These are people like Miles Lerman,

active in fundraising and philanthropy

for Israel, and the man most responsible for the Holocaust Museum in

Washington, who form the unshakable

foundation of America’s unwavering

support for Israel.

Israel today is 47 years strong. I

know I speak for the people of New Jersey, and the United States, when I wish

her peace and continued prosperity.

f ∑

ORDER OF PROCEDURE

Mr. CHAFEE. I suggest the absence

of a quorum.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The

clerk will call the roll.

The legislative clerk proceeded to

call the roll.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the

quorum call be rescinded.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.