Floor Statements

I thank my dear friend for yielding.

This is a great loss to the country. Our friend, Guy Vander Jagt, was a distinguished Member of this body, a great public servant, and a friend of most of us here.

I want to thank, Mr. Speaker, my dear friend, the chairman of the committee, for yielding this time to me, and express my great affection and respect for Mr. Conyers.

I also want to thank my dear friend, Mr. Smith, for the kind words that he made about me, and I want to express my affection and respect for him.

I want to say that this is a good piece of legislation. It has taken a while, but I'm happy to have worked with many of our colleagues, including the distinguished gentlewoman from New York, who has been a fine leader on this matter.

Improving the National Instant Check System is a matter of important national business, and I would urge my colleagues to take a look at the rather curious alliance which brings this matter forward. Not only is the NRA, but the gun control folks are in support of

it. Members on both sides of the aisle, both here and in the Senate, are strongly supporting it.

The bill will require the National Instant Check System to work. It will provide incentives to the States and penalties for those who do not cooperate in terms of making the system work.

This system has the capability of seeing to it that criminals are denied firearms while, at the same time, assuring that we protect the rights of law abiding citizens.

The bill makes the system better for everyone, and assures that there will be better law enforcement and better protection of the rights of all citizens, both under the second amendment and personal security.

The bill also addresses the problems of mishandling of this matter by the Veterans Administration, by making corrections which will make it possible for veterans who have not a disability of mental character or otherwise, to own firearms within the ordinary structure of the law.

It is a good piece of legislation. I want to commend my distinguished friend, Congresswoman McCarthy from New York for her leadership and the outstanding work which she has done.

I will tell my colleagues that this is an important matter. I'm delighted to see that we're able to come together, Democrats and Republicans, friends of firearms and hunters and sportsmen, and also those who are concerned about public safety, and who desire to see to it that we have proper protection of persons against criminal misuse of firearms.

We have given this body a good bill. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, we've heard many concerns from gun owners, especially my fellow veterans, who are concerned that a person who seeks treatment for a mental problem might be reported to NICS as a ``mental defective.'' I want to lay those concerns to rest right now.

First of all, federal law, the Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits gun ownership by people who are ``adjudicated'' as mentally defective. ``Adjudication'' implies a decision by a court or similar body--not just a doctor's notes on a patient's charts.

Even the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives make that clear. They define an ``adjudication'' as a decision by a ``court, board, commission or other lawful authority.'' They have never treated doctors as a ``lawful authority'' for this purpose; clearly what they had in mind were legally empowered bodies such as judges, or the county mental health boards that are in place in some states to make decisions at hearings with respect to mental illness.

Second, we in no way intend that this bill should override federal or state medical privacy laws or the basic role of a doctor. The confidentiality between a doctor and patient is sacred and we do not intend to breach it here. We make that clear in section 102 of this bill, where we require the Attorney General to work with the medical and mental health community to develop privacy regulations.

Finally, this is a particular concern for the Veterans' Administration, which examines thousands of veterans every year. Even if we wanted them to, it would be an unreasonable demand on that hard- working agency to expect them to comb every patient's file for any possible finding that the person might be dangerous. I want to be clear that that is not our intent.

It is important that we understand these points because no person should ever be deterred from seeking mental health treatment out of a concern that he might lose his Second Amendment rights due to some record of voluntary treatment being provided for the instant check system.

Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows:

Mr. DINGELL: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 948. A

bill to strengthen the authority of the Federal Government to

protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the

sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social

Security account numbers, and for other purposes; with an

amendment (Rept. 110-191 Pt. 1). Ordered to be printed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Booker T. Dozier, of Inkster, Michigan, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

Mr. Dozier is a pillar of the Inkster community, where he has lived for over 50 years. Time and again, Inkster has turned to Mr. Dozier for guidance, organization and leadership. In 1993 he led the effort to create Inkster's Memorial Day parade, culminating in a successful annual event which continues today. His organizational skills were put to use again when he was called on by the Mayor of Inkster to spearhead a successful effort to raise $100,000 for young man in need of a heart transplant.

There are also many different organizations which have benefited from Mr. Dozier's guidance. He has been involved with the Inkster Summerfest Festival Committee; the Because Inkster Cares Committee; the Optimist Club; the Inkster Dance Club; and the Inkster Goodfellows, who work to ensure that there will be ``no child without a Christmas.'' Mr. Dozier also served as the Chairman of the Inkster Commission on Aging for over 20 years and has been a member of the Wayne County Board of Directors for Meals on Wheels for the elderly.

Booker T. Dozier has consistently served his community. His efforts to improve Inkster have not gone unnoticed, as one of the most well known and used facilities within the city is the Booker T. Dozier Recreation Center. I thank Mr. Dozier for all of his efforts to better

his community and I congratulate him on the milestone of his 90th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 464, I call up the Senate bill (S. 5) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, as we consider S. 5 as passed by the Senate, I am pleased to report that both Houses of Congress have again found common ground on stem cell research policy. This is a matter of utmost importance. We have sent this legislation, or similar legislation on stem cell research, to the President twice. The legislation has been vetoed.

This is a bicameral bill and our actions are clear: We and the American people will not be deterred from enacting potentially life- saving legislation of this kind. For those suffering from diseases such as Alzheimer's, autism, cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, Parkinson's or spinal cord injury, stem cell research offers both promise and hope, and that is why we must continue this fight and continue this research.

The legislation lifts the arbitrary date restriction and expands the number of cell lines eligible for federally funded research. It contains strong ethics provisions passed in H.R. 3, ensuring new stem cell lines are only derived from unused embryos created for human fertility treatments that would otherwise be discarded.

I want to be clear: S. 5 does not permit funding for creation or destruction of embryos. This is a critical point. If

not used in research, these stem cells will be discarded as medical waste.

Finally, I note that S. 5 includes the text of the Hope Offered Through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research Act, or the HOPE Act, which is Senate language.

At this time I wish to yield now and I ask unanimous consent that the distinguished gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) be permitted to control the time on this side. She has done a superb job in providing leadership on this matter.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1252 is intended to stop and punish unscrupulous gasoline price gougers. The bill empowers the Federal Trade Commission to go after gougers at all levels of the gasoline distribution chain and to impose stiff penalties on violators. It also provides authority for the States to go after retail price gougers under Federal law.

The bill is not, however, intended to prohibit all increases in price--only those increases that grossly exceed the supplier's earlier prices and competitors' prices and that do not reflect reasonable responses to an emergency situation.

This bill would not prohibit a seller from raising prices to compensate for extra risks, such as staying open while a hurricane is bearing down, traveling outside an affected area to secure additional supplies and transport them to people in need, or postponing regular maintenance to increase output during an emergency. These are all efforts that ameliorate a dire situation and the bill is not intended to discourage them.

Finally, the bill would permit suppliers to reasonably factor in other local, regional, national, and international market developments in the quickly-changing and uncertain market conditions characteristic of energy emergency situations.

In sum, Mr. Speaker, this bill is intended to prohibit grossly excessive, pernicious, and predatory increases in the price of gasoline during emergencies--but not to prevent or discourage fair and reasonable responses to unusual market conditions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Prue and Ami Rosenthal of Ann Arbor, MI. For 30 years the Rosenthals have given much to the City of Ann Arbor and its community. Mr. and Mrs. Rosenthal are the 2007 recipients of the Washtenaw County Jewish Federation's Humanitarian Award, the highest honor the Jewish Federation bestows upon recipients.

The Rosenthals were married in Massachusetts in 1962 and came to Ann Arbor in 1977. For these 30 years the duo of Prue and Ami have served Ann Arbor's Jewish community. Prue has spread her time and efforts among several organizations, such as a volunteer for the Beth Israel Congregation, Hadassah, the Jewish Federation, as well as serving as president of the Hebrew Day School. Prue is also a student of art history and has devoted herself to the University of Michigan (UM) Museum of Art, currently serving on the National Advisory Board and contributing her talent and knowledge to the creation of the new museum. She has also served on the board of

the University Musical Society for 7 years, 3 as the Chair.

Ami came to Ann Arbor after he was recruited from Harvard to direct the division of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Since then he has established an international reputation for this remarkable program and created a network of 13 pediatric cardiology clinics throughout Michigan, using both his medical knowledge and his personal humor to help patients. He is now instrumentally involved in the development of the new Mott Children's hospital.

Prue and Ami have placed tremendous emphasis on the future of their community and together they helped found Save a Heart Foundation to raise funds for the Pediatric Congenital Heart Center, which has helped young people receive treatment. The Rosenthals have also provided significant funds to education programs at the Museum of Art and the Musical Society and they have a special interest in creating programs for children in Israel that encourage understanding and tolerance. Ami has also greatly impacted many young people at the collegiate level as chairman of the U-M Board of Student Publications and as a board member of the Hillel Foundation. In addition to all that the Rosenthals have done both professionally and philanthropically, they also have three sons and three grandchildren. Family is at the center of the Rosenthal's lives and they are intensely involved in their extended family as well.

I thank the Rosenthals for all that they have done for the Ann Arbor community. They serve as an example of all that individuals can do to help the greater good. This award is a tremendous accomplishment and it is certainly well deserved. For all that they have done and for the great love they have shown to Ann Arbor, I salute the Rosenthals and extend my appreciation to them for their great contributions to the people and institutions of their community.

Mr. Chairman, Representative Cardoza will highlight the importance of communications interoperability for our Nation's first responders, and the urgent need for cost-effective and forward-looking technology solutions. Last year, Congress established an interoperability grant program at the Department of Commerce to draw upon its spectrum and telecommunications expertise. This program is distinct from efforts by DHS, which, as evidenced by a recent report of the Government Accountability Office, still need much work to achieve full interoperability across our Nation.

I did not support the creation of this Cabinet level Department, but I applaud Chairman Thompson for his efforts in this reauthorization. Coordination is the goal, not confusion of authority.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my distinguished friend and colleague from Mississippi for the recognition. I recognize that securing our homeland is going to take tremendous efforts across the agencies and involve government expertise and cooperation throughout the government. I want to say that, in this matter, the business of the Nation is in good hands in those of my friend from Mississippi.

I represent Michigan, the State with three of the busiest northern border crossings in the United States. Our citizens have long been accustomed to an open border in which citizens on both sides were able to commute to jobs, visit families, do shopping and visiting across international borders.

With the events of September 11, 2001, our borders were shut. Michigan's economy literally ground to a halt. Just in time deliveries to Michigan factories and industries were stopped at the border. The new security realities threaten to idle factories and to lay off workers.

This bill goes a long way to making sure that we avoid that situation, and it will also enable thousands of our citizens on both sides of the border, Michiganders and Canadians, the freedom to travel when they need to and in ways to which they have grown accustomed.

The US-VISIT program is properly funded, more inspectors will be hired for the border. New technologies will be deployed to help ease the traffic and speed processing.

Under the leadership of our friend, the chairman, Mr. Thompson, the bill increases Department of Homeland Security budget by $2 billion more than last year, and nearly 8 percent above the President's budget. Not only is more being put into the border, but we are also restoring funding to our first

responders, money that was cut by the President's budget. State Homeland Security and Fire Assistance grants are restored to appropriate levels.

As I said before, preparing and preventing another terrorist attack is a responsibility to all. As we learned 6 years ago from the anthrax attacks here on Capitol Hill, it is important that the Federal Government have an intelligent, coordinated and effective response to bioterrorism and to all our terrorisms. All Cabinet-level Departments and the agencies under their purview must work towards ensuring our domestic security.

It is, however, important that as we move forward on this legislation, we keep in mind that the agencies have the expertise and the skill to answer public health emergencies. We must not allow mission creep to set in blurring lines of authority and diluting the effectiveness of our response effort.

I also want to point out the need for strong improvements in the cybersecurity of this Nation. The Committee on Energy and Commerce has long sought to raise the profile of cyber threats within DHS and to better prepare the Nation for potentially catastrophic cyber disruptions. The manager's amendment in this legislation will require DHS to collaborate with expert agencies, including the Department of Commerce and the Federal Communications Commission. This collaboration will ensure that ongoing efforts will not be interrupted or eroded.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Zingerman's Delicatessen, in Ann Arbor Michigan. This year Zingerman's is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Zingerman's was founded in 1982 in Ann Arbor, Michigan by Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig. It is now known internationally and renowned as one of America's best delicatessens. Along with the University of Michigan, Zingerman's is also one of Ann Arbor's best known and popular tourist attractions.

From its original store in 1982, Zingerman's has grown and now operates 8 separate gourmet food businesses throughout Michigan, employing 545 individuals and serving as an example to other businesses by providing its employees with excellent compensation, benefits and vacation time.

Along with their commitment to an equitable work environment, co- founders Paul and Ari also have a lasting commitment to providing their customers with cuisine of the utmost quality. This quality has been recognized frequently, as Zingerman's has been the recipient of numerous culinary awards, including, most recently, the Food Network's 2007 ``Delectable Delivery of the Year'' award. The New York Times also covered Zingerman's anniversary with an article in its May 2, 2007 edition.

Zingerman's is an Ann Arbor original and it is commonly acknowledged that there are few, if any, better places in the world at which to get a nosh. With all that it has done in the last 25 years, I ask that you join me in recognizing the anniversary of Zingerman's Delicatessen; the honors and accomplishments of co-founders Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig; and their contributions to the City of Ann Arbor, the State of Michigan, and the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my letter be inserted in the Record as part of the consideration of H.R. 518, the International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2007, which passed under suspension of the rules on April 24, 2007. This letter responds to the letter received by the Speaker from Mr. Justin McCarthy, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs, and the Hon. Jeffrey T. Bergner, Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, regarding H.R. 518.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce

Washington, DC, April 30, 2007.

Mr. Justin J. McCarthy

Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, for Congressional

Affairs Office of the U.S. Trade Representative,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Jeffrey T. Bergner

Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs U.S.

Department of State, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. McCarthy and Assistant Secretary Bergner: I have

obtained a copy of your April 23, 2007, letter to Speaker

Nancy Pelosi expressing the Administration's concern with

H.R. 518, the International Solid Waste Importation and

Management Act of 2007. I sponsored this bipartisan bill with

the entire Michigan delegation and a number of other Members

of the House of Representatives. It was favorably reported by

the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials and

the full Committee on Energy and Commerce in late March and

passed the House of Representatives on April 23, 2007, by a

voice vote without opposition.

Your letter implies and attempts to raise concerns that

H.R. 518 would somehow apply to hazardous waste shipments or

in some way would be incompatible with U.S. obligations under

the North American Free Trade Agreement and WTO agreements.

Neither of these observations is correct.

First, the bill expressly applies only to ``foreign

municipal solid waste,'' not hazardous waste (new section

4011) (f)(2)). Further, hazardous waste is explicitly

excluded from the term ``municipal solid waste'' (new section

4011 (f)(3)(B)(i)).

With regard to the issue of whether H.R. 518 is compatible

with our international trade obligations, the bill explicitly

preserves prior law relating to international trade

obligations. New section 4011(a)(3) provides as follows:

``(3) Trade and Treaty Obligations.--Nothing in this

section affects, replaces, or amends prior law relating to

the need for consistency with international trade

obligations.

Thus, Canada retains all of its rights under the North

American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade

Organization (WTO) agreements to challenge a State action

alleged to be inconsistent. Domestic waste trade measures

that allegedly violate NAFTA might be challenged under the

NAFTA general dispute settlement chapter.

Even where a measure is alleged to be inconsistent with

NAFTA, the Congressional Research Service has noted that

there may be general exceptions incorporated from Article XX

of the GATT 1994 that allow parties to adopt or enforce

measures necessary to protect human, animal, or plant life or

health and measures relating to the conservation of

exhaustible natural resources if such measures are made

effective in conjunction with restriction on domestic

production or consumption.

Finally, your letter states that there are other ways to

address concerns about imports of foreign waste, noting as an

example the U.S.-Canada Agreement Concerning the

Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste. I would hope you

are aware that H.R. 518 is providing the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) with the requisite statutory

authority necessary to enforce that very agreement as it

applies to municipal solid waste. EPA has maintained that it

cannot fully implement and enforce the U.S.-Canada bilateral

agreement without the authority provided by H.R. 518 in new

section 4011(c).

I also note that almost four years ago EPA officials

testified that the current Administration would submit the

necessary implementing legislation for the U.S.-Canadian

bilateral agreement ``soon.'' No such legislative proposal

has ever been submitted by President Bush.

You should be aware that H.R. 518 directs the EPA

Administrator to implement the U.S.Canadian bilateral

agreement within 24 months and, as noted above, provides the

necessary authority to enforce its provisions with respect to

municipal solid waste. Thus, our bill would give effect to

the U.S.-Canada bilateral agreement and ensure that it is

implemented. The passage of H.R. 518 is important to the

people of Michigan and similarly affected States.

I hope this correspondence serves to correct any misunderstandings concerning H.R. 518.

Sincerely,

John D. Dingell,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Keith Peters, who is retiring from his position as president and CEO of the Ypsilanti Area Chamber of Commerce. Keith has dedicated himself to bettering the Ypsilanti community for over 40 years.

Keith Peters was born in Grabill, Indiana, in 1941 and moved to Michigan for college in 1960. In 1964, he graduated from Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing and married Betty Jackson, his wife of 43 years. Keith honorably served the citizens of Ypsilanti from 1963 to 1983 as senior minister at First Christian Church in Ypsilanti.

After 20 years at First Christian, Keith changed directions and held a variety of positions within Ypsilanti's business community. In 1983, he served as production controller at Barfield Manufacturing in Ypsilanti. In 1989, Keith became sales manager at WAAM Radio in Ann Arbor.

Keith began his career at the Ypsilanti Area Chamber of Commerce in 1995 as membership director and small business advisor. After just 2 short years of hard work, a strong record of success, and proven dedication to the Ypsilanti business community, Keith became president and CEO of the Ypsilanti Area Chamber of Commerce. Keith's leadership at the Ypsilanti Chamber has yielded great results, such as the doubling of both its membership and budget, as well as the creation of the Ypsilanti Area Chamber Education Foundation in 2000.

Keith has also given of himself to the broader Ypsilanti community, serving on such boards as the Workforce Development Board; the Washtenaw Development Council Board; the Board of Elders of the Memorial Church of Christ; the Advisory Board of the Eastern Michigan University College of Education; the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Executives Board, to name a few.

Keith Peters has done tremendous work for his community. I am sure that his wife Betty, his two children, and his eight grandchildren are all very proud of him. Keith has provided spiritual, economic and educational wisdom and much of his time to the Ypsilanti area and I am proud to call him a friend: I wish him an adventurous and healthful retirement and am certain he will have great success in all of his future endeavors, both personal and professional.

Madam Speaker, our Nation's healthcare system boasts many triumphs--and many failures. As a nation we spend more than $1.9 trillion on health care, yet the number of those without insurance continues to grow. At last count, more than 46 million Americans under age 65 had no health insurance. This is an increase of 1.3 million people from the previous year, and continues this upward trend that began in 2000.

Those individuals who lack health insurance often forgo vital treatment and are left to depend upon a thinning safety net of healthcare providers. No health insurance often means filing medical bankruptcies or, worse yet, becoming one of the 18,000 premature American deaths each year that are attributable to lacking health insurance.

It is time to act. Today I am introducing ``Medicare for All.'' It will make the tried, true, and trusted Medicare program available to everyone under age 65. Citizens will also have the option of selecting from any of the health benefit plans available to Members of Congress, the President, and Federal employees. People with lower incomes will continue to receive extra help with cost-sharing and premiums in order to access Medicare services.

According to the Institute of Medicine, insuring all Americans would actually save the country $380 billion a year, partly because we already pay for the health care of the uninsured, who wait until they are in crisis and often receive their care in emergency rooms. If comprehensive healthcare coverage is available to all Americans, better preventative services and earlier treatments will be received, lowering healthcare costs. All Americans will reap the economic benefits of a healthier nation, from a stronger economy to lower health insurance expenses.

This plan will save not only lives, but also American jobs. American companies are competing in the international marketplace against businesses that do not directly bear the costs of providing their employees and retirees with health care.

As a result of a slowing economy earlier in the decade and healthcare premiums increasing faster than wages and incomes, the number of people with employer-based health insurance coverage continues to decline. Approximately 12.4 million people lost their employer-based insurance between 2000 and 2005. Premiums for family coverage have increased by 87 percent since 2000. American companies are trying to do the right thing, but it is getting more difficult.

I urge my colleagues--both Democrats and Republicans--to support this bill, and join me in addressing the healthcare crisis faced by millions of Americans today.

I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I applaud the work of the three committees that have brought this legislation to us, and the work of my good friend from California (Mr. George Miller) as well as that of the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). I want to say a word of praise for our colleagues from Ways and Means led by their distinguished chairman, Mr. Rangel.

On our committee, a lot of people worked on it very hard: Mr. Pallone, the chairman of our subcommittee; Ms. Eshoo, who worked very hard on the matter; and our good friend Mr. Stupak and the distinguished gentlewoman from Colorado, who now occupies the Chair, Ms. DeGette, who both did a superb job in negotiating language to avoid the difficult questions associated with birth and issues relating to abortion.

I want to say a word of praise for the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) who did so much.

Madam Speaker, this is an extraordinary bill. It prevents individuals from employment discrimination. It would make it unlawful for employers, employment agencies, labor organizations or training programs to deny individuals the employment opportunities because of genetic information. It requires genetic information to be treated as a part of the individual's confidential medical record. In addition to that, it protects individuals from insurance discrimination by prohibiting insurers both in the group and individual markets from using genetic information to determine eligibility to establish individual premiums based on genetic information of individuals or their family members.

The bill has been significantly amended since its introduction and has been refined through the work of the three able committees of jurisdiction. The version before us includes key elements that were reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and includes a useful definition change of the word ``family member.'' It is a fine piece of legislation.

I want to pay a tribute to my friend, Mr. Barton, the ranking member of the committee on Energy and Commerce, for his cooperation on this matter. This is an excellent bill. It should pass, it should become law. My private guess, my dear friends, is that it will exceed, in terms of votes, 350 or 400.

I also want to express my respect and affection for the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), who worked hard on this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 518, the International Solid Waste Management Act of 2007. This legislation is of the greatest importance to our people in Michigan, and it has been sponsored with great enthusiasm by all members of the Michigan delegation in a completely bipartisan fashion.

Mr. Rogers, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Upton, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Levin, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Kildee, Mrs. Miller, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Camp, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. Hoekstra and Mr. Walberg have all been important supporters of this bill. And I want to pay particular tribute to my colleague from Michigan (Mr. Rogers) for his leadership.

I also want to thank the distinguished Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials for his leadership and for his help and for the way that he has taken care of us in Michigan in making it possible for this legislation to be on the floor at this particular time.

The gentleman from Maryland is an extremely effective and able leader, and we are not only grateful to him, but also to our dear friend, Mr. Gillmor, who moved it for us in the last Congress.

The legislation is identical to the bill that passed the House of Representatives without opposition last September. In this Congress it was reported out both by the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials and the full Committee on Energy and Commerce by voice vote, without dissent.

I would point out that it requires the EPA to enforce the notice-and- consent provisions in the bilateral U.S.-Canadian agreement, an agreement which was signed by the United States and Canada in 1986 to govern trans-boundary movement of hazardous waste, and amended in 1992 to include municipal solid waste.

I note now that the administration should comply with the notice-and- consent provisions which require both parties to use best efforts, absent regulation. Unfortunately, the needed efforts by the Administration have not been forthcoming. Although legislation was promised to be delivered ``soon'', by the Administration it has yet to appear.

Michigan's ability to manage the importation of solid waste is crucial to the comprehensive and environmentally sound waste management that the State of Michigan wants to have. Since 1996 when Michigan first began collecting the data, we have seen a 350 percent rise in the amount of Canadian waste disposed in Michigan, going from 2.7 million cubic yards to 12.1 cubic yards.

As mentioned by Mr. Rogers, better than 400 trucks haul this waste across the bridges every day from Canada into Michigan. Not only is this waste an obnoxious substance, but it is a hazard to travelers and to our roads. It is also an environmental risk, a security risk, and a hazard to the health and security and safety of our people.

This legislation would ensure that the U.S.-Canadian Agreement is properly implemented and properly enforced. The bill provides criteria to ensure that the views of State and local governments are properly taken into account in implementing the bilateral agreement and the bill adds the necessary enforcement authority so that this can be dealt with fully, completely, and properly.

The legislation would also give not just Michigan, but all of the States, more authority to regulate foreign waste until the Environmental Protection Agency's rules and regulations go into effect. This is extremely important, as all of my colleagues in Michigan and elsewhere know.

I want to say that I am pleased that the House is moving forward. I commend my colleagues in the Michigan delegation for the extraordinary cooperation, leadership and energy with which they have addressed this problem. And I want to again thank and express my deep gratitude to the Chairman of the Subcommittee, my good friend from Maryland (Mr. Wynn) for the fine leadership which he has shown in this matter