EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

May 18, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1071

H.R. 961, THE CLEAN WATER

AMENDMENTS ACT OF 1995

HON. CARDISS COLLINS OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 18, 1995

Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I oppose H.R. 961, the Clean Water Amendments

Act of 1995. It is interesting that the Republicans have continually claimed to have an interest in bringing common sense to the legislative process and yet they are now proposing

taking one of the most successful environmental laws on the books and recklessly and

nonsensically gutting it. This Dirty Water Act is

a threat to our health and should be rejected

soundly.

Almost half of the lakes and rivers in America are currently so polluted that it is not safe

to fish or swim in them. The Clean Water Act

was passed to improve this horrific situation

and has been steadily improving the quality

and the safety of the waters across our country. Yet, now, with our environment still not

even close to the level of clean that it needs

to be, the Republicans are foolishly working to

overturn and undermine this most critically important clean water law.

In the State of Illinois, as in the other 49

States, substantial improvements in the quality

of water have been made over the past 20

years but there is still a long way to go. In

fact, 91 percent of Illinois’ lakes and 55 percent of our rivers and streams are not safe for

fishing or swimming or are so dead from pollution that they cannot support aquatic life. H.R.

961 would halt the progress that has been

made so far and dangerously jeopardize the

future health of Illinois’ waterways through

several damaging provisions.

First, the bill would undermine the Great

Lakes initiative which seeks to control the

amount of toxic chemicals being dumped into

Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes.

Since this is the source of drinking water for

my constituents, the quality of Lake Michigan’s

water is of primary interest and concern. Currently, because of high levels of mercury and

PCB’s, there is an advisory for women of

child-bearing age, pregnant women, and children not to eat more than one fish meal per

month from Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan

trout now contain PCB levels that are more

than 180 times their target and likely cause

thousands of cancer deaths in the area.

The Great Lakes initiative seeks to improve

this situation by organizing the Great Lakes

border States in a unified Federal-State partnership to clean up the Great Lakes. This

model initiative should be promoted and encouraged rather than weakened and undermined as H.R. 961 seeks to do.

In addition, H.R. 961 dramatically alters the

definition of wetlands that are protected and

eliminates the current legal protection for 70

percent of Illinois’ wetlands. We need only

think back to the Mississippi floods of 1993 to

remember how critically important wetlands

are to flood protection. Illinois has already lost

90 percent of its acres of natural wetlands and

this loss of nature’s flood absorption system

has caused billions of dollars worth of damages. The Illinois State Water Survey estimates that every one percent increase in wetland acreage would lead to a four percent decrease in flood levels. It seems extremely

short-sighted and risky to me to further reduce

our wetlands and cause even more severe

flooding in the years ahead.

Further, the Dirty Water Act does not address the critical issue of polluted run-off. Polluted runoff from fields, roads and cities is Illinois’ number one water quality problem. It was

also responsible for the cryptosporidium outbreak in Milwaukee that caused 400,000 people to become ill, and 130 children, senior citizens, and people with AIDS to become seriously or fatally ill in 1993. Seemingly, after the

tragedy in Milwaukee, this bill would be used

as an opportunity to take specific steps to address polluted run-off problems.

Mr. Speaker, the recklessness of this bill

astounds me. Our lakes and streams are so

polluted that they are almost unusable and

they are posing a direct threat to our health.

How much further do we want to go? Do we

want to wait until all the fish die and every city

experiences a Milwaukee-like tragedy? This is

certainly not what my constituents want to see

and I will not stand by and allow our lakes and

streams to be turned into sewers. I urge my

colleagues to join me in rejecting this dangerous bill.

TRIBUTE TO THE MEMBERS OF

THE RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLfUNTEER PROGRAM

HON. DAVID E. BONIOR OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 18, 1995

Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

pay tribute to the members of the Retired and

Senior Volunteer Program [RSVP]. Tomorrow

afternoon, Friday, May 19, 1995, the RSVP of

Macomb County is saluting the many seniors

who provide vital volunteer services at a

luncheon in Clinton Township, MI.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program

is a nationally recognized program for persons

over 55 who serve as volunteers in their communities. In the 10th Congressional District,

Catholic Services of Macomb sponsors RSVP

at the local level.

By matching the talents, knowledge, and interest of volunteers with community needs, the

RSVP maximizes its services provided to the

needy and ill among us. RSVP volunteers

serve in schools, hospitals, community centers

and with numerous social, health, and welfare

organizations. Last year, 433 registered volunteers performed over 50,000 hours of service

and assisted 55 nonprofit agencies. The devotion RSVP volunteers have displayed to their

community is an inspiration. Their contributions are many and they deserve our gratitude

for their compassion and work.

Taking an active role in one’s community is

a responsibility we all share, but few fulfill. I

applaud all of the RSVP members who rather

than retire to the easy chair, continue to serve

our communities.

I commend the members of the Retired and

Senior Volunteer Program for their efforts and

encourage them to continue their good work.

Please join me in saluting the RSVP of

Macomb on the event of their volunteer recognition luncheon.

HONORING JOHN VINCENT FIORE

ON HIS RETIREMENT

f

HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 18, 1995

Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

recognize, John Vincent Fiore, vice president,

trade relations of Pepsi-Cola West. Mr. Fiore

is retiring from Pepsi-Cola after 41 years of

service.

Mr. Fiore attended Northwestern University

and specialized in business management and

advertising. Prior to joining Pepsi-Cola, he

served in the U.S. Army.

He has been an active member of the Mexican-American Grocers Association, California

State Package Store and Tavern Owners Association, Korean Grocers Association, Chinese Grocers Association, and the National

Conference of Christians and Jews. He is the

past president of RecyCal and a member of

the political affairs committee for the California

Nevada Soft Drink Association.

In addition, under Mr. Fiore’s direction,

Pepsi-Cola has become actively involved with

community youth programs in an effort to

guide young people in the right direction.

Pepsi-Cola has participated in public awareness programs such as Just Say No To Drugs

and Don’t Drop Out Of School. In his community and company, he has made contributions

to the minority community so that it may grow

and prosper.

Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I rise to

recognize my friend, John V. Fiore, and I ask

my colleagues to join me in saluting him for

his outstanding commitment to his community.

PUBLIC BROADCASTING

fHON. MICHAEL G. OXLEY OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 18, 1995

Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago, the

creators of public broadcasting proposed funding it through a trust fund capitalized by various fees and taxes on commercial broadcasters. The proposal went nowhere.

Like other government-funded agencies

today, public broadcasting is being asked to