ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

SUPPORTING SENATE BIPARTISAN ACTION
ON BROWNFIELDS LEGISLATION

WHEREAS, the nation’s mayors have pressed for bipartisan Congressional legislative initiatives to help communities recycle the many thousands of brownfield sites throughout this nation; and

WHEREAS, among the legislative elements of a broader federal response to the national problem of the persistence and pervasiveness of brownfields in cities, towns and counties has been a call for increased funding commitments to cities for the assessment and cleanup of these sites; and

WHEREAS, the mayors have also identified liability reforms, providing protection for innocent parties, both public and private entities, in their efforts to recycle these sites; and

WHEREAS, the mayors have also sought further clarification in the relationship between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the states in decisions and other actions regarding the clean-up and redevelopment of these sites; and

WHEREAS, key leaders in the Senate, led by Senators Lincoln Chafee, Frank Lautenberg, Robert Smith and Max Baucus, recently introduced a bipartisan legislative proposal, the "Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act", which substantively deals with these key concerns,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The U. S. Conference of Mayors supports the "Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act" and urges the Senate to move forward promptly on this bipartisan initiative to help ensure that final Congressional action occurs this year on a brownfields reform package; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U. S. Conference of Mayors urges its members to secure Senate cosponsors for this legislation to demonstrate the strong support of the nation’s mayors for action on this legislation.