Date: 1987-02-24
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. the House is now considering House Joint Resolution 153. I introduced this resolution last week along with my colleagues. the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey . the distinguished gentleman from Michigan . the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vssrro]. the distinguished gentleman from New York . and the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania . The resolution has strong bipartisan support and is motivated by deep concern for the health of our Nations schoolchildren. This much needed resolution will correct an inexcusable and intolerable situation. Asbestos causes cancer and crippling respiratory diseases. Children are at greater risk from asbestos because of their high respiration rates and longer lifetime during which asbestos related diseases may develop. The EPA recently estimated that as many as 15 million schoolchildren and 1.5 million school employees are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis in nearly 31.000 school buildings nationwide. According to a recent study by the General Accounting Office. three quarters of all school districts in the country have at least one building with friable asbestos. The GAO estimates total cleanup costs to be in the range of $1.5 billion to $3 billion. Recognizing the severity of the problem. the need for immediate action. and the inability of State and local government to fully respond to the problem. the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act of 1984 was enacted into law. Under ASHAA. the EPA provides grants and interest free loans to needy school districts for asbestos cleanup projects. Congress appropriated $50 million for this program for fiscal year 1987. Unfortunately. the administration has asked Congress to rescind $47.5 million of the $50 million appropriated for fiscal year 1987. To make matters worse. the EPA. which administers the ASHAA Program. has decided to put the program on hold while Congress considers the rescission request. The result of EPAs action is that applications for the 1987 funds have not yet been sent to school districts. The delay in the program threatens to preclude school districts from completing necessary remedial work this summer. Because of the dangers from airborne asbestos fibers caused by cleanup work. it is only prudent to undertake remedial efforts during the summer. In testimony on this resolution before our subcommittee last week. a representative of the National PTA stated that it can take several weeks. even a couple months. between the time that an ASHAA award notice is received by a school and the time that asbestos abatement work can actually begin. EPAs witness. Dr. John Moore. the Assistant Administrator for Pesticides and Toxic Substances. acknowledged that if awards are not made until June. it is "problematic" that schools could complete remedial work during the summer. EPA has stated that if the fiscal year 1987 funds are not rescinded. it will not award $10 to $15 million in ASHAA funds to 1987 applicants until June. That is too late for the recipients to undertake cleanup projects during the summer. The children who attend those schools and the people wno work in them will therefore face another year of asbestos before cleanup takes place. The resolution would not permit this to happen. Under the resolution. EPA would have to take such steps as are necessary to get the ASHAA money out in time for recipients to complete remedial projects this summer. In his testimony before my subcommittee. Dr. Moore of the EPA acknowledged that the administration is philosophically opposed to providing Federal aid for the cleanup of asbestos in schools. We had this philosophical debate in 1984 when ASHAA was passed. The President signed the ASHAA legislation into law. In each of the past 3 years the Congress has reaffirmed its commitment to cleaning up asbestos in schools by appropriating $50 million for the program. It is time to get on with the ASHAA program and get asbestos out of our schools. This resolution will let the administration know what we think of its rescission request and will force the EPA to make ASHAA awards in time for use this summer. I commend the gentleman from Michigan . the gentleman from New Jersey . and the gentleman from New York for bringing this issue to our attention. I would also like to thank the ranking member of the subcommittee. the distinguished gentleman from Kansas . for his help and cooperation in bringing this resolution before the House in a swift and timely fashion. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.