To permit certain expenditures from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.

Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to discuss H.R. 6131, legislation to make technical corrections to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. We are here today to make these technical corrections because of the hastily drafted Energy Policy Act of 2005.

As ranking Democrat of the Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, which has authorization over the leaking underground storage tank program, I will support the policy to fix this piece of legislation.

However, the bill should not mask the failure of the Bush administration and the Republican-led Congress to adequately fund this Federal program. The Leaking Underground Storage Tank program is responsible for protecting groundwater and local drinking water supplies by preventing and cleaning up MTBE and petroleum contamination from leaking underground storage tanks in our communities.

More than a year ago, Congress dramatically increased the funding authorization for the EPA Leaking Underground Storage Tank program to $605 million annually. This increase was necessary to support additional clean-ups of leaky tanks to ensure States have funding to carry out new inspections, operator training, delivery prohibition, and secondary containment requirements.

However, President Bush proposed a reduction in funding to clean up MTBE and petroleum from the tens of thousands of leaking tanks throughout the country in his fiscal year 2007 budget. The budget which has been approved by the rubber-stamp Congress, in my opinion, is outrageous.

During this time of high gas prices, Americans are being taxed one- tenth of 1 cent for every gallon of gasoline they purchase with the expectation this money will be contributed to the Leaking Underground Storage Tank trust fund and released to help to clean up contamination.

The tax on the American public raises $190 million every year; and by the end of fiscal year 2007, the trust fund will have a surplus of more than $2.7 billion.

Yet President Bush only sought $72.8 million for the clean-up and protection of our water supplies, an amount that the Republican-led Congress said was needed. The amount is nearly $120 million less than what taxpayers will be contributing next year.

Rather than use this money to clean up contamination and protect water supplies, the administration and Republican-led Congress are holding onto the money to offset the cost of Republican budget priorities, such as tax cuts to the wealthy.

Congress acted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to take steps to prevent leaks before they occurred by adding new requirements for inspections, operating training, delivery prohibition, and secondary containment. And during consideration of EPACT, Congress authorized $155 million annually to carry out these prevention activities.

Again, the President only requested $37.5 million in his fiscal year 2007 budget, only 24 percent of what Congress authorized. This Congress appropriated even less. The rubber-stamp Congress approved only $17.5 million, only 9 percent of what we authorized for this program.

As a result of Congress's failure to adequately fund the program, States are now facing unfunded mandates. Between 2005 and 2007, States have lost $899 million in Federal support. The lack of Federal support is leading States to consider turning back their programs to the Federal Government, including their tank programs.

In a letter dated December 9, 2005, a coalition of State officials, gasoline marketers, convenience store owners, stated: ``If the administration and Congress do not break with tradition and appropriate significantly higher amounts from the fund in the coming years, EPA and the States will be unable to implement those important reforms.''

It is unacceptable that our States are being saddled with these unfunded mandates. There is absolutely no reason to justify saddling our States with unfunded mandates and failing to appropriately use taxpayer money.

Mr. Speaker, I will insert at this point in the Record a letter Ranking Member Dingell and I sent to the EPA and the EPA's response.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, February 22, 2006.

Hon. Stephen L. Johnson,

Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6131) to permit certain expenditures from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6131, a bill that would permit certain expenditures from the Leaking Underground Storage Trust Fund. I want to thank the Energy and Commerce Committee for their leadership in assisting to move this bill forward, and I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation.

Moneys appropriated from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund, which is often referred to as the LUST trust fund, are used for detection, prevention and clean-up of leaking underground storage tanks in order to reduce water pollution. This bill would codify within the Internal Revenue Code an updated list of permitted expenditures from the fund as sought by the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Environmental Protection Agency within the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

This bill should not be controversial, as it is in everyone's interest to keep our Nation's drinking water from being contaminated. In addition, the bill has no spending or revenue effect.

H.R. 6131 will allow the LUST trust fund to be used for expanding corrective action in response to releases from underground storage tanks, including those containing MTBEs, and will provide additional measures to protect groundwater.

It will expand Federal and State enforcement efforts, improve prevention measures and compliance, and expand inspections of underground storage tanks. Mr. Speaker, we have the opportunity today to join together and continue our efforts to keep our Nation's water supply clean. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I think the bottom line is that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorized an additional $400 million annually for inspection, prevention and cleanup of our water supply; and without passage of this legislation, none of that money can be spent, regardless if you agree with the level of appropriations or not.

So I think it is important that we pass this piece of legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us, H.R. 6131, does some good. It would change the rules regarding the Leaking Underground Storage trust fund and allow these funds to address the MTBE leaks. That is shorthand for gasoline additives in underground tanks at your neighborhood gas station.

MTBE leaks are dangerous and destructive, and this legislation will amend the energy bill in a good way. Unfortunately, these additives get into water and create problems for human beings. The legislation does nothing to address the other dangers and destructive leaks in the President's energy policy, however. It does not amend the bill to repeal the tax giveaways the President's energy bill gives Big Oil.

It does not repeal the $30 billion in corporate welfare Republicans have given to Big Oil and their energy companions. It does not make America less dependent on oil, and it does not make America less vulnerable to nations that have the oil resources that we need.

Oil and gas companies continue to line their pockets with American taxpayer dollars. The Republicans have delivered billions in tax breaks last year. That was after the Republicans handed over billions in 2004. Republicans gave oil companies a sweetheart tax break that climbs in value as the process and profits claim. You pay and pay, while they keep and keep.

That sums up the Republican energy policy. Today, we should act to stop one big leak in the Nation's energy policy. It will take removing Republicans in the midterm election to begin to plug the other big leaks in the Republican energy policy.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would simply say, Mr. Speaker, that I think from the previous speaker and myself you understand that this bill does not do any harm. I think that is why we will support it. It does not do very much about the energy problems in this country, and I really think that is where we ought to be spending our time.

If the Federal Government really was interested in cleaning up the environment, they would spend the money that is there. It is there for that purpose. However, they need it to cover the debts of war and a whole lot of other things which, in my opinion, are not the way this money should have been spent.

So I personally will urge a voice vote and pass the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6131 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.