House Proceeding on Mar 12th, 2009 :: 1:20:45 to 1:26:00
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1:20:37 to 1:20:58( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: mr. oberstar: yes. mr. boozman: i yield to the gentleman from michigan, mr. ehlers, as much time as he would like. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. ehlers: i thank the gentleman for yielding. i rise in strong support of h.r. 1262, the water quality investment act of 2009. as previously

1:20:45 to 1:26:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Vernon J. Ehlers

1:20:59 to 1:21:19( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: legislation has an accumulation of five bills that overwhelmingly passed the house of representatives in the 110th congress but which were held up or significantly altered in the senate. i echo the comments made by chairman oberstar at the transportation and infrastructure markup that by bundling these bills together, we can make it even easier for

1:21:20 to 1:21:40( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: the senate to act quickly. the provisions in this bill will go far toward helping restore and protect the great lakes. the largest fresh water source on the planet. and i have spent considerable amount of time in this issue over the years. i want to deeply thank chairman oberstar for his dedication to

1:21:41 to 1:22:01( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: this and his willingness to combine these bills in a very meaningful fashion. i thank also mr. boozman for his good work on it and ranking member mica for his help as well. of particular interest to me is the re-authorization of the great lakes legacy act.

1:22:02 to 1:22:22( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: the great lakes are plagued by toxic contaminants from years of industrial pollution that have settled in the sediments of tributaries to the lakes. these legacy pollutants degrade the health of both humans and wildlife. if they are not cleaned up they will remain toxic for generations to come. we have known about these toxic

1:22:23 to 1:22:44( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: materials for years. we lived in the vain hope that they might just stay in the sediments at the bottom and not move into the lakes. we now know that they are moving into the lakes and that's the reason i authored the legacy act several years ago. i have to say that the highest compliment i have received on that bill and i have received it

1:22:45 to 1:23:05( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: numerous times is that this is the most effective, best federal cleanup bill that was ever passed. and maybe we can use this as a model and go back and clean up the rest of the dumps using the same approach we used here. that's why i introduced the great lakes legacy act in the

1:23:06 to 1:23:27( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: 107th congress with bipartisan support congress passed and the president signed the legacy act in 2002. since then the legacy act has been heralded as i said the best and most effective federal environmental cleanup program. the interesting aspect of it which was gratifying in some ways but disappointing in others

1:23:28 to 1:23:48( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: is that the president of th united states every year requested the full authorization in his budget request. unfortunately the congress did not appropriate the money that the president had suggested. and i hope, mr. chairn, mr. ranking member, that we can both

1:23:49 to 1:24:11( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: work on this and make appropriators are willing to appropriate the money that the president requests. and we would be far ahead by now . last year chairman oberstar and i introduced the great lakes legacy re-authorization act which increased the authorization from $50 million per year to $150 million per year for five years.

1:24:12 to 1:24:32( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: according to the great lakes regional collaboration strategy, if fully appropriated this amount can potentially clean up all of the toxic sediments in the great lakes watershed in 10 years. that will be a major accomplishment at relatively low cost and will stop the problem for all time. althou the house passed this

1:24:33 to 1:24:53( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: bill by a resounding 371-20 vote, the senate was unable to overcome the objection of a single senator who did not want to increase this authorization. a compromise was reached to re-authorize the program at its prior funding level, but to only re-authorize the program for two years. during floor debate last year chairman oberstar vowed to

1:24:54 to 1:25:15( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: address this iue in the 111th congress and i'm grateful that he has honored thapromise in one of the first committee water bills to be taken up by the house in this congress. and that with -- i also thank chairman oberstar and ranking member mica for their support and ranking member boozman. their dedication to the great

1:25:16 to 1:25:36( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: lakes issues have been most appreciated throughout the entire midwest. this has -- a real treasure of pure water in the united states and i'm convinced that in the future of water will be worth more than oil in the industrial machinery of our nation and you will see a resurgence of manufacturing around the great

1:25:37 to 1:25:58( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: lakes. simply because of the availability of the abundant, clean water. i'm hopeful the senate will be able to pass this bill soon so that we can speed our efforts to clean up and protect the great lakes. i urge all members to support this important legislation. once again thank all those who

1:25:59 to 1:26:01( Edit History Discussion )

Vernon J. Ehlers: worked so hard on these bills so that they could reach this state.