Also, I will continue to work with Senators to find the best way to keep this process moving. However, I want to stress the need for forward progress. The First Session is nearly over, and we have a long way to go if we intend to pass a bill. Finally, I want to note some areas of the bill that, to my mind, underscore the progress we have made. The bill has also been made more flexible regarding the federal-state relationship.
States can assume various degrees of responsibility for site cleanups.
And the federal government can step in if the Governor asks for help, or if remedies used by a state are not sufficiently protective. Each of these issues was raised in testimony and discussions about the bill. We have made great efforts to resolve them. It is in that cooperative and productive spirit that I ask my colleagues to not let the hard work of the past months go to waste. It is time to finish this bill.