Pledging to continue to work with Democrats to broaden the bipartisan support for his legislation to reform the nation’s Superfund law and help cities clean up and redevelop brownfields, Representative Sherwood Boehlert (NY) secured bipartisan Subcommittee approval June 10 for his "Recycle America’s Land Act" (H.R. 1300).

On a bipartisan vote of 22-9, the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment approved H.R. 1300, after adopting several amendments, sending the legislation to the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for action as early as July 1st.

During Subcommittee debate on the measure, Boehlert cited the support of the nation’s mayors, small business, farm community and labor for his bipartisan legislation, stating, "We have crafted a bill that has earned the support for this important array of organizations."

Boehlert explained that "we passed up an opportunity in the last Congress" to make needed reforms to the nation’s Superfund law and provide support for communities in redeveloping brownfields. He then explained how "This year, we started right from the beginning to generate bipartisan support for this legislation." Boehlert reported that 39 Democrats and 39 Republicans were cosponsors of the legislation before the Subcommittee.

During his comments he cited testimony provided by Macon Mayor Jim Marshall on why legislative action is needed, stating, "It is time to heed this call from the nation’s mayors." He cited efforts by the Conference’s leadership, including Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, to urge President Clinton to work with him and others in crafting a bipartisan agreement. He also described his efforts to respond to issue raised by EPA Administrator Browner, noting that several amendments before the Subcommittee respond directly to testimony that she provided.

Full Committee Chairman Bud Shuster pledged to the panel members that "If we continue to see this bipartisan support, I will move this expeditiously in the full Committee." Despite considerable Democratic support for the legislation, with nearly a majority of Democrats on the full Committee cosponsoring the legislation, Representative James Oberstar (MN), the Ranking Democratic Member on the full Committee, said, "This is not our bill yet." Acknowledging the public position of the Administration and many Democratic members to focus any legislation on selected brownfields provisions, Oberstar said, "We (Democrats) are prepared to go beyond brownfields."

Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR), who was one of five Democrats who voted for H.R. 1300 during Subcommittee action, said, "I am frustrated that we have been unable to move this. I do believe the bill before us is the vehicle." Citing his firsthand experience as the environmental Commissioner of the City of Portland, OR, he also emphasized the urgency of acting on these reforms. "It is important to show the American public that we can get things done."

Amendments Adopted

During Subcommittee action on the measure, several amendments were adopted in direct response to concerns expressed by U.S. EPA Administrator Carol Browner, changes which were embodied in Representative Boehlert’s en bloc amendment and amendments by Representatives Blumenauer and Ellen Tauscher. Another Blumenauer amendment protects municipal sewer systems owners from Superfund liability if they are in compliance with the Clean Water Act.